Door of Hope Northeast: Recent Episodes
Door of Hope Northeast
Door of Hope Northeast is a new church launched in 2020 in Portland, Oregon. We are part of the Door of Hope Family of Churches, which exist for Jesus as a movement of grace for revival in the city. This podcast collects our weekly teachings, key ministry updates, and other important news related to the life of our community.
Matthew 7:24-29 - Jesus ends the sermon on the mount with a final choice between life founded on him and a life founded on anything else. Hearing, trusting, and doing what Jesus has said is the way to wisdom, flourishing, and a life that can stand amidst life’s coming storms. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 24 of our series “Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount: The Good Life in the Kingdom of Grace”]
Matthew 7:15-23 - Jesus continues the conclusion of the sermon on the mount with a stark warning about the coming of false teachers and the possibility of performing for Jesus without knowing Him. He gives the image of two trees--one diseased and one healthy--their ultimate character revealed by the fruit they eventually bear. May we learn to discern the quality of the spiritual fruit borne in our leaders... and in ourselves. A sermon by Kyle Sunderland. [Part 23 of our series “Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount: The Good Life in the Kingdom of Grace”]
Matthew 7:13-14 - Jesus begins His conclusion to the sermon on the mount with a stark and provocative picture. There are two gates leading to two paths leading to two ends: death on the one hand and life on the other. Like God offering the choice to Adam and Eve in the garden or Moses offering the choice to the children of Israel in the wilderness, Jesus offers again the choice--this time oriented around His saving grace and Lordship. In light of all that Jesus has said in His sermon, choose today whom you will follow. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 22 of our series “Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount: The Good Life in the Kingdom of Grace”]
Matthew 7:12 - Jesus wraps up the main body of His sermon with a statement that is both a summary of all that came before and a concise statement of the heart of the Christian life: a vision of self-giving love that requires deep gospel meditation to faithfully step into. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 21 of our series “Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount: The Good Life in the Kingdom of Grace”]
Matthew 7:7-11 - With these words, Jesus gives the final teaching about prayer in the Sermon on the Mount. It is an invitation to boldly appeal to God to meet our needs—one ultimately rooted in His character as a good and loving Father. A sermon by Zach Boutan. [Part 20 of our series “Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount: The Good Life in the Kingdom of Grace”]
Matthew 7:1-6 - This passage includes some of Jesus’s most famous and yet misunderstood words. Through three main ideas He offers us not simple catchphrases but anchor points for learning how (and how not) to make and receive moral judgments wisely in community as we seek to help one another toward Christlikeness. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 19 of our series “Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount: The Good Life in the Kingdom of Grace”]
Matthew 6:25-34 - Jesus follows His warning against greed and making a master of money with a related warning about the way in which overly focusing on material possessions produces anxiety. With these words Jesus speaks peace into our worries about the future by inviting us to look up from them at the abundant creation around us and the fatherly love of God above us all. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 18 of our series “Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount: The Good Life in the Kingdom of Grace”]
in our culture, Jesus issues a grave warning around it. How does one move from greed to a God-serving generosity? Jesus and His gospel point the way. A sermon by Todd Miles. [Part 17 of our series “Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount: The Good Life in the Kingdom of Grace”]
—engages the whole person (body, spirit, desires and on and on) in a way that few other disciplines do. In this teaching we receive an invitation to fast as Jesus envisions, not to earn our favor with God, but to respond to His grace with our whole selves. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 16 of our series “Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount: The Good Life in the Kingdom of Grace”]
Matthew 6:14-15 - In these two short verses, Jesus provides emphasis and commentary on The Lord’s Prayer. In them we learn about the connection between prayer and action as well as between forgiving and being forgiven. The call is ultimately to grow to let the forgiveness God has shown us through Jesus’s death and resurrection blossom into Christ-like character that becomes a conduit of his forgiving, gracious love to others. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 15 of our series “Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount: The Good Life in the Kingdom of Grace”]
or, on the other hand, an approach like deep Bible study more appealing? Why? 3) What has your relationship been like with memorizing Scripture? 4) What is one verse you've never memorized that you think would be good to do? 5) What difference does the belief that the Bible is the very words of God make for how we approach it? 6) Talk about some of the ways we encounter Jesus in the Bible.
? 3) How does this passage reinforce the idea that interaction with the Bible is a life-long endeavor? 4) In what ways did Jesus embody the life of the true Psalm-1-person? 5) How do listening, reading, and studying enable you to engage the Bible in different ways? 6) Share some ways of engaging with Scripture that you've personally found helpful over the years.
]Questions for reflection: 1) Have you been exposed to the overarching narrative of the Bible before? How has it been presented to you? 2) Do you struggle to connect the individual Bible stories you read to the overall biblical context? 3) What are some avenues we can take to connect a given biblical story to Jesus? All stories may not be specifically about Jesus, but they all at least in some way point to Him. How? 4) How would you summarize the story in a few sentences?
]Questions for reflection: 1) What have you been taught up to this point about where the Bible came from? 2) Was there anything new, exciting, or challenging in what Cameron shared about the overall picture? 3) Why do you think the human side of the Bible’s production is sometimes viewed as scandalous? 4) Why do you think we can have confidence in our modern English Bible translations? 5) What relevance does the divinity/humanity of Jesus have for how we think the Bible?
]Questions for reflection: 1) Why was the resurrection of Jesus such an unexpected and unfathomable event for the disciples? 2) In these three stories we saw Jesus encounter grief, doubt, and guilt/shame. Which of these encounters do you most resonate with? 3) Explain how Jesus not only had compassion on Mary, Thomas, and Peter but how he also commissioned each of them into further ministry. 4) How might the truth of the resurrection be daring you to hope in this season of your life?
3) What is the connection between God's forgiveness toward us and our forgiveness of others? Why is it so crucial to Jesus? 4) How does this prayer inspire us to love one another in the way Jesus envisions? 5) How might you incorporate the praying of these words into your daily life moving forward?
)? 3) How are the concepts of God's name being rightly glorified, His kingdom coming, and His will being done related? 4) How is this prayer both making requests of God AND inviting us to participate? 5) How did Jesus embody the spirit of this prayer in the garden of Gethsemane? How did His death and resurrection allow us to truly embrace the content of this prayer? 6) Discuss how you would like to incorporate the Lord's Prayer into your daily rhythms.
Matthew 6:5-8 - With these verses Jesus turns His attention to the most basic, essential, and foundational spiritual practice of them all: prayer. Assuming that His disciples WILL pray, He highlights two cautionary examples of what not to do, reminding us that true prayer must be directed to God in subtle humility and as succinct, trusting children. Prayer is simply talking to God. And true prayer is ultimately recognized as a privilege--an opportunity to commune with a loving Father who wants to know and be known by us. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 12 of our series “Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount: The Good Life in the Kingdom of Grace”]Questions for reflection: 1) Do you view prayer as the central or foundational spiritual discipline? In theory or in practice? 2) What is prayer? What forms can it take? And which ones are you most familiar with? 3) If Jesus wasn't advocating for absolute secrecy in prayer here, then what was He getting at? 4) Contrast praying as an educator, lawyer, or manipulator with praying as a beloved child. 5) How does believing that God is attentive, loving, wise, AND powerful strengthen our prayer? 6) How does Jesus make us daughters and sons of the Father? How does the Holy Spirit embolden us in this truth?
Matthew 6:1-4 - With these verses we begin the next major section of The Sermon on the Mount where Jesus gives direction regarding three of the most important spiritual/religious practices: generosity, prayer, and fast. Here Jesus begins with a stark reminder that any spiritual practice, if it is really going to bring spiritual benefit, must be done unto God from a heart of love, rather than from a heart that wants to look good in the eyes of others. From there, Jesus applies this principle to the realm of generosity--specifically giving to the poor and needy. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 11 of our series “Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount: The Good Life in the Kingdom of Grace”]Questions for reflection: 1) Why do you think religious hypocrisy incites such a strong reaction in so many people? 2) How might we reconcile Jesus's words in Matthew 6:1 with those in Matthew 5:16? 3) Jesus assumes that His disciples will be giving to the poor. Why is this a key part of His kingdom vision? 4) Jesus prescribes subtlety in our giving. Why? 5) Why is what we do in secret or when we aren't calling attention to ourselves an especially powerful revealer of our true character and values? 6) How did Jesus embody his own principles here in His earthly ministry? On the cross?
? Why or why not? 4) How would the world be different if everyone lived this way? 5) How did Jesus personally embody this principle in HIs own life and ministry? How does He personally embody it toward you?
Matthew 5:33-37 - In His fourth case study, Jesus turns his attention to a subject that may not seem super applicable to us: oath-making. But in our post-truth culture, Jesus’s call to holistic, pervasive truthfulness is both radical and powerful. It turns out that truth is inseparable from love and its absence is a danger to us all. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 8 of our series “Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount: The Good Life in the Kingdom of Grace”]Questions for reflection: 1) How would you describe our culture’s relationship to the concept of truth? 2) What were the norms around swearing oaths in Jesus’s day? What was the difference between swearing by God or by something else? 3) Why does Jesus ultimately forbid swearing oaths altogether? 4) What might holistic, pervasive truthfulness look like in someone’s life? 5) What habits might help us cultivate both our truth-discerning and truth-telling “muscles”? 6) Why is it significant for this conversation that Jesus refers to Himself as “the truth”?
? What might generosity look like for you in these things? 6) Discuss how Jesus becoming poor was part of his plan to save us. How does this motivate our generosity, care, and acts of justice toward others?
in our culture? 4) How does this command relate to the New Testament conception of the church as a family? 5) How might you personally be involved in the care of orphans, widows, and related groups? 6) How does the spiritual adoption that Jesus offers us all relate to this command?
and why were they repeatedly listed among the most vulnerable groups worthy of extra concern? 2) How would you summarize the Old Testament's expectations for how the nation of Israel was to treat foreigners? 3) How does that same heart get expressed in the very different New Testament context? 4) Brainstorm together some ideas for doing justice for the sojourner across our 3 categories: serving, giving, and advocating. 5) What does Colossians 3:8-14 invite us to do with regard to our national or ethnic divisions? 6) In Matthew 25, Jesus identifies closely with the sojourner. How were His incarnation and even His crucifixion on our behalf related to this idea?
doing justice' not reducible to just one of these activities? 4) Discuss the idea of planning for both responsive/reactive justice work and proactive/strategic justice work. 5) Why is a loving heart an indispensable part of this? 6) What is the connection between the grace of Christ toward us and our doing justice toward others?
2) Why should we take this passage in Luke 4 as especially important for understanding Jesus's overall mission? 3) What all did Jesus say that He came to do in Luke 4:18-19? 4) What is the relationship between physical needs and spiritual needs in Jesus's words here? What is the relationship between them in general for Jesus? 5) How did Jesus actually put these words into practice over the course of His ministry? 6) How is this passage a reminder of what Jesus first did for us spiritually? How might that motivate us to become people of justice and compassion toward our neighbors?
This past Sunday 3 of our elders shared the latest updates and answers to some frequently asked questions concerning our ongoing Fremont Building Restoration Project and fundraising efforts. For ongoing updates, be sure to visit our website and subscribe to our newsletter. Support this project by giving and sharing with those who might be interested in helping to restore a 111-year-old church building in the heart of Portland! Learn, share, and give at www.doorofhopene.org.
Isaiah 9:2-7 - For Advent we’ll be considering four passages from the Old Testament prophets that anticipated the coming of God’s Spirit-anointed Messiah-King, who we know as Jesus Christ. In Isaiah 9, we get a picture of God’s light entering the dark, breaking the chains of His people’s oppression, and sending a Son to rule in perfect wisdom, strength, and peace. We learn that God doesn’t fear the dark, but enters it with us to dispel it. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 1 of our series “Advent in the Prophets”]Questions for reflection: 1) What is the difference between Advent and “the Holiday Season?” 2) How does Advent carry both a realistic and optimistic message? 3) What is God’s relationship to darkness? 4) How is God’s promised ruler different from the various ones that come and go in our world? 5) How does the cross illustrate the totally unique nature of Jesus’s rule and reign?
in our culture? 4) What does Jesus's teaching here indicate about how He sees the purpose of marriage? 5) How do we not trivialize the deep importance of our marriage commitments when acknowledging the grounds for divorce that the New Testament gives? 6) If you're married, how have you worked to cultivate health in your own marriage? If you're single, how have you worked to cultivate health in your own singleness?
as the center of the biblical sexual ethic. 4) Jesus affirms the Old Testament's prohibition of adultery, but then He reveals its deeper heart. Why is Jesus concerned with what people do even with their eyes and minds? 5) How is this teaching good news for women, in particular? 6) What are some radical measures you could take to step into this fight in light of verses 29-30?
]Questions for reflection: 1) Explain the connection between this passage and the previous one (Matthew 5:17-20). 2) Why would Jesus say that anger in the heart or contemptuous words will receive the same judgment as murder? What's he getting at? 3) In what ways can anger be a proper response? In what ways can it be a dangerous response? How does our culture often get this wrong? 4) What principle do you think is behind Jesus's story about not offering temple sacrifice while there is unresolved conflict with a brother or sister? 5) How does this passage push us toward a deeper recognition of our need for forgiveness through Christ?
? 5) How would you summarize Jesus's relationship to the Mosaic law? 6) How would you answer someone who asked why Christians don't observe the laws about wearing clothes of mixed fabrics?
4) What is the relationship here between faith and works? Or between Christ's work in your life and your work out in the world? 5) How does this passage point us to the grace of Christ? How does it point us to the Holy Spirit's empowerment?
lie in these statements? 5) How is Jesus the embodiment of the beatitudes? 6) How is the importance of the recognition of our own need highlighted here in Jesus's words?
1 Peter 2:9-12 - In part 3 of our vision series we consider how we are to “boldly go.” Rooted in our identity together as “holy exiles” chiefly allegiant to King Jesus, we are to embrace a posture of love toward our city and neighbors, in word and in deed. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 3 of our series “Confidently Be, Boldly Go: On the Dance of Family Formation and Neighbor Witness”]Questions for reflection: 1) Do you personally tend toward separating into a holy huddle OR assimilating into a fan club in relation to our cultural environment? 2) How have you felt the reality of living as a “holy exile” or “ambassador” in your day-to-day life? 3) How does the idea of evangelizing sit with you? Why? 4) How would you describe your own degree of being wowed with the beauty and goodness of Jesus? 5) What is one population in Portland you struggle to love? Why? 6) What is one population in Portland that your heart really beats for? Why? 7) Why do you think faith and love expressed in word AND deed are so important across the Bible?
Rooted in our cross-centered theology, fighting to be knit together as family, and doggedly committed to a focused simplicity--we are fighting to be formed as a community set apart for Jesus. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 2 of our series “Confidently Be, Boldly Go: On the Dance of Family Formation and Neighbor Witness”]
1 Peter 2:1-12 - We begin our 2025-2026 vision series with an examination of two great temptations that have always been with the people of God: to either separate into a holy huddle or to assimilate into a cultural fan club. The key to avoiding the failings of each is to remain radically committed to the Jesus who deeply cares both about the formation of His people into a spiritual family AND the witness toward their neighbors in word and deed. This year may God allow us to both confidently be AND boldly go. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 1 of our vision series “Confidently Be, Boldly Go: On the Dance of Family Formation and Neighbor Witness”]
This past Sunday we announced our intent to purchase the beloved Fremont church building we meet in and to make a significant investment in it. Our desire is to raise the money necessary to address long-deferred maintenance so that it would remain a thriving, beautiful, Jesus-proclaiming space in our city for years to come. Listen here to the update that was given and learn how you can play your part in this exciting opportunity!
2 Peter 1:16-21 - The bishops who formulated the Creed wanted to make sure the authority and trustworthiness of Scripture was acknowledged, and what better way than to highlight Scripture as the vehicle of prophetic words from the Holy Spirit (another way of saying the Bible is the word of God)? And although the prophets, the Apostles, and Jesus Himself had an exceedingly high view of the Bible and its divine origin, they also readily acknowledged its thoroughly human origin. This is all the more evidence of the desire God has to work in, through, and alongside His image bearers to accomplish His purposes—even in the creation of his sacred texts! A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 15 of our series “The Nicene Creed: The Ancient Theology of the Triune God”]
John 15:26-27 - The brevity, mystery, and church-splitting importance of the phrase "Who proceeds from the Father" make it among the most difficult in the Creed to unpack. Debates over the eternal relations within God--especially the procession of the Spirit from the Father--led in part to the split of the single Christian church into the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches in 1054 AD (the Protestant Reformation came later). But before we dismiss this debate as too obscure, we should fight to see the importance that the great Christian theologians of history have attached to it. It helps us understand the key distinctions within the trinity and ensures that we view the Holy Spirit, alongside the Father and the Son, as fully God and utterly worthy of our worship. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 14 of our series "The Nicene Creed: The Ancient Theology of the Triune God"]
Acts 2:1-4 - The third section of the Nicene Creed explores the person and work of the Holy Spirit. In this message we consider Genesis 1-2, John 16, and Acts 2 to see how the Bible reveals the Holy Spirit not as an impersonal force, but as God Himself--the third person of the trinity--who brings His people to new life. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 13 of our series "The Nicene Creed: The Ancient Theology of the Triune God"]
Luke 18:28-30 - Jesus and the Apostles had a radical vision for the burgeoning church community: a spiritual family or parents, siblings, and children to one another with Jesus at the head. Reclaiming this vision reminds us that we aren't meant to parent alone, but that it truly takes a village. The implications of truly pursuing this vision of life are powerful for parents, other adults, and children alike. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 4 of our series "Bearing the Image as Fathers and Mothers"]
Ephesians 6:1-4 - The biblical perspective on the value of children was a revolution in its ancient context, one we're still struggling to fully live into today. Paul's teaching in Ephesians 6 to parents is what flows out of a view of children as full image-bearers of God--full of dignity and value given by God Himself. In it, we are challenged to take seriously kids' personhood and feelings and to nourish them through our discipline and instruction, empowerment and nurture. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 3 of our series "Bearing the Image as Fathers and Mothers"]
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 - The Shema in Deuteronomy 6 is one of the most important, load-bearing passages in the entire Bible. Its content and then application in the following verses has deep implications for all of life, especially for Christian parenting. In it we see that whatever we want to communicate to our children about God, we must first find that we know and love Him in our own hearts. Healthy, engaged, intentional Christian parenting flows out of a life of integrity beginning in the heart then out through our words and actions. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 2 of our series "Bearing the Image as Fathers & Mothers"]
Luke 15:11-24 - In this sermon we start a 4-part teaching series on parenting called "Bearing the Image as Fathers & Mothers." We begin with a consideration of the fundamental task of parenting: Spirit-empowered embodiment of the compassionate and gracious heart of our Father God toward our children—children both literal and spiritual. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 1 of our series "Bearing the Image as Fathers and Mothers"]
John 5:19-29 - In this message we look at the final section of the 2nd article of the creed, which says Jesus "shall come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, of whose kingdom there shall be no end." The return and final judgment of Jesus are often considered scary or uncomfortable doctrines, but rightly understood, they give us confidence that truth, goodness, beauty, and justice will win out in the end. We are also told in Scripture that God desires that none should perish and so He gives all time to repent and turn to Him--His invitation to find oneself on the right side of His judgment is widely open to all who will take it. Jesus's judgment, in the end, is an indispensable part of His good news. A sermon by Pip Craighead. [Part 12 of our series "The Nicene Creed: The Ancient Theology of the Triune God"]
Acts 1:6-11 - The ascension of Jesus is an often-neglected event, but it helps us answer the question, "Where is Jesus right now and what is He doing?" In this sermon we consider the implications of the Nicene Creed's statement that Jesus "ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father" in fulfillment of Daneil's incredible prophecy about one like a "Son of Man" given a "dominion, and glory, and a kingdom." The ascension of Jesus to the right hand of God is not just esoteric theology, but it is an indispensable part of the good news that Jesus now rules as prophet, priest, and king. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 11 of our series "The Nicene Creed: The Ancient Theology of the Triune God"]Questions for reflection: 1) What do you think the average non-Christian thinks Christians think Jesus is doing right now? What have you thought? 2) Why is the ascension an important doctrine for understanding the good news of Jesus? 3) What does it mean for Jesus to "sit at the right hand of the Father"? 4) Discuss Jesus as reigning king, interceding priest, and empowering prophet? 5) What does acknowledgement of Jesus's cosmic reign look like in your own life? What should it look like?
Luke 24:1-32 - The Nicene Creed reminds us that the resurrection of the Son of God is the centerpoint of both the Biblical story and God's plan for salvation. The whole Old Testament looks forward to it in anticipation. The whole New Testament looks back on it with exposition. In Luke 24 we are reminded of the challenge of the empty tomb, the surprising evidence from ancient doubts, and what ultimately gives us the eyes to see Jesus for who He really is as risen Lord and Savior. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 10 of our series "The Nicene Creed: The Ancient Theology of the Triune God"]Questions for reflection: 1) Many characters in Luke 24 had been told by Jesus that He would die and rise again, but they all struggled to believe it after it happened. Why do you think that is? 2) How is the fact that a group of women were the first witnesses to the empty tomb an evidence for the truthfulness of the accounts of Jesus's resurrection? 3) What do we make of the fact that the Apostles are made to look foolish and faithless so much across the 4 gospels? 4) Jesus taught the two disciples on the road to Emmaus about the things concerning himself across the Old Testament. What stories, images, or prophecies in the Old Testament come to mind for you that concern Jesus? 5) How is the resurrection of Jesus evidence of both God's love AND God's power?
Luke 23:1-56 - We continue unpacking the creed's statement about the humanity of Jesus, this week turning to His passion (or suffering). The creed explains that Jesus "was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried," scaffolding our belief in the legal subjugation, multifaceted suffering, and genuine death that Jesus experienced "for us human beings and for our salvation." In this sermon we consider Luke's telling of these events and what they reveal about Jesus and His mission. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 9 of our series "The Nicene Creed: The Ancient Theology of the Triune God"]Questions for reflection: 1) Why is the Nicene Creed so significant for Christians? What is its relationship to Scripture? 2) Jesus is questioned about His kingship or HIs reign. What does his elusive answer suggest? 3) How is the story of Jesus and Barabbas a picture of the kind of theological "substitution" that is part of the gospel? 4) What kinds of suffering did Jesus endure after his arrest? What kinds of suffering did He endure across His whole human life? 5) What is the relationship between the torn curtain in Luke 23:45 and Jesus's offer to the trusting thief on the cross? 6) Why do you think the authors of the creed wanted to emphasize the burial of Jesus? Why is it important to acknowledge?
Luke 12:35-48 - Here Jesus tells two short parables about what faithfulness looks like for those who wait on Him. We don't know when He will return, but we know we are called to be ready and faithful in the meantime. All disciples are called to ready, watchful waiting, and leaders have a special burden to serve at Jesus’s pleasure, under Jesus’s vision, by Jesus’s methods, with Jesus’s tone, for Jesus’s purposes. In these two parables we learn about the grace and justice at the heart of God, both flowing out of His love, and both reaching their culmination on the last day. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 7 of our series "Imagining the Kingdom: Jesus's stories about the already and not yet reign of God"]Questions for reflection: 1) Can you think of an example of how certainty of a future event shaped your behavior in the waiting? What was that like? 2) What does it look like for us today to be "dressed for action" with "lamps burning?" What is spiritual readiness in light of Jesus's return? 3) What is surprising about the master's behavior in Luke 12:37? How did Jesus himself embody this? 4) The second parable (vv. 42-48) focuses on those entrusted with leadership responsibility. What does the manager's abusive behavior look like when we see it today? 5) How does the master's (Jesus's) severity toward the abusive manager reveal God's love? 6) This passage points to the fact that the return of Christ will be a day of both grace and justice. How do these two values come together in the cross of Jesus?
Luke 18:9-14 - Jesus told a simple parable about a Pharisee and a tax collector "to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt." The parable is about how righteousness and justification work in God's Kingdom and the surprising centrality of humility, mercy, and grace. The parable puts this question to its hearers: will we choose the way of the legalist, the libertine, or the disciple? A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 6 of our series "Imagining the Kingdom: Jesus's stories about the already and not yet reign of God"]Questions for reflection: 1) What is notable about Pharisees and tax collectors for understanding this parable? 2) Cameron said that most commentators agree that it is hard for modern readers to hear this parable with Jesus's intended shock. He suggested we consider subbing in a career 3rd grade teacher and a pornography producer to try to capture it. How does this change the dynamic for you? 3) What does each man pray in the parable? 4) How do the legalist and the libertine miss the mercy of God? 5) How can God be both just AND merciful in response to sin? How does Jesus fit in? 6) Do you ever find yourself "trusting in yourself that you are righteous?" What does that look like in your own life?
Luke 15:11-32 - This parable of Jesus's is often known as "the parable of the prodigal son," but it could just as easily be thought of as "the parable of the gracious father" or even as "the parable of the religious older brother." Each of these three main characters unlocks a world of meaning within this parable. In this sermon, we focus especially closely on the older brother and what Jesus has to teach us through him about the dangers of legalism, entitlement, resentment, and bitterness toward God's grace for others. A sermon by Naseem Khalili. [Part 5 of our series "Imagining the Kingdom: Jesus's stories about the already and not yet reign of God"]Questions for reflection: 1) When you read this parable, which character do you most relate to? 2) What motivates the older brother's frustration after seeing how the father treats the younger brother's return? Have you ever felt similarly? When? 3) Tim Keller coined the term "older brother lostness" to describe the sense of frustration and bitterness that comes from keeping the rules but not being rewarded how you want. How does the grace of God upend our expectations around these things? 4) What does this parable have to say about the character of our God as revealed in Jesus? 5) Naseem gave us a powerful question: Why do you love God? Or why do you follow Jesus? How does the story of the older brother press us for an answer?
Matthew 13:31-33 - As the disciples would have likely begun to feel fear, insecurity, and doubt about Jesus's message and methods, Jesus told these two short, simple parables to help set their expectations. No, the kingdom of God would not advance according to the world's expectations and standards. But yes, the kingdom would advance--slowly, but surely--and become a place of belonging, safety, nourishment, and celebration to all who would receive the gospel. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 4 of our series "Imagining the Kingdom: Jesus's stories about the already and not yet reign of God"]Questions for reflection: 1) Have you ever felt discouraged about the place of Jesus's kingdom or church in the world? What brought about that feeling? 2) How do you imagine the disciples would have felt in the midst of all the opposition Jesus received during his earthly ministry? 3) Compare and contrast the main points made by these two parables. 4) Discuss God's pattern of using humble things to bring about His purposes. 5) How have Jesus's promises in these parables been proven true over time and geography? 6) How does the cross of Christ embody the ideas of these two parables?
Luke 10:25-37 - Jesus's parable of the good Samaritan is one of his most iconic stories, but our overfamiliarity can make its shocking points harder to see. When asked by an expert in Israel's law, "Who is my neighbor?" Jesus tells a story that turns the concept of neighbor from object to subject, challenging us all with what it truly looks like to love others as ourselves. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 3 of our series "Imagining the Kingdom: Jesus's stories about the already and not yet reign of God"]Questions for reflection: 1) What is the lawyer's answer to his own question about how to inherit eternal law? How does Jesus respond to it? 2) What do you think motivated the lawyer's follow-up question, "And who is my neighbor?" 3) It is important to know something about the relationship between Israelites and Samaritans in their day. What was the source of their tension? 4) To understand the parable, we have to recognize Jews and Samaritans as enemies. How does imagining your own "enemies" in the Samaritan role change the force of what Jesus is saying? 5) How did Jesus embody this radical neighbor- and enemy-love ethic? How does He embody it toward us, specifically? 6) What might it look like for you to "go and do likewise?"
Matthew 13:44-46 - This week we consider two short related parables from Jesus: the parable of the hidden treasure and the parable of the pearl of great price. Both deal with questions around the cost and value of the kingdom. Just what is the Kingdom of God worth? A sermon by Tsion Reid. [Part 2 of our series "Imagining the Kingdom: Jesus's stories about the already and not yet reign of God"]Questions for reflection: 1) Have you ever felt misunderstood by others about why you valued something? What was that experience like? How did you help them see? 2) In both parables, how does the man respond who finds the valuable object? 3) What is the does it look like for us to "sell all that we have" in order to become part of the Kingdom of God? 4) Tsion connected this parable to story of Jesus's encounter with the rich young ruler (Matthew 19:16-22). In what ways did the rich young ruler value the kingdom? In what ways did he not? 5) How does your own life reflect the degree to which you, personally, value the Kingdom of God?
Matthew 13:1-23 - Jesus was a deeply creative teacher and a cornerstone of his teaching ministry was imaginative stories called parables. His parables were both short and complex, invitational and alienating. In them, Jesus announced the Kingdom He was bringing and sought to paint a picture of and develop an appetite for His Kingdom. In this teaching, we consider His first parable and the one that helps us understand the others: the parable of the sower. May we heed Jesus’s call to be those with ears to hear. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 1 of our series “Imagining the Kingdom: Jesus’s stories of about the already and not yet reign of God”]Questions for reflection: 1) How do you imagine Jesus would have struck you as a teacher of parables in the 1st century? How does he strike you today? 2) How do the parables both reveal and conceal the good news of the Kingdom? 3) What role does imagination play in the Christian life? How do the parables help us cultivate our imaginations? 4) What do we learn about the character of the sower in this parable? 5) How can we be sure we are really “hearing” the teachings of Jesus (and the word of God in general)?
Acts 17:22-31 - We conclude our series with an exploration of what it might look like to treat art appreciation as a spiritual discipline, or, to practice art appreciation in the name of the Lord. We look to Paul’s example at the Areopagus (or Mars Hill) and his engagement with Greek poetry for a few basic principles related to receiving art, wisely discerning art, and encountering God through art. May we recognize the unique power beauty has to help people see the goodness and truth of God. May we learn to look the world to His grace, both common and saving. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 6 of our series "Looking the World to Grace: Art, Makers and the Christian Life"]Questions for reflection: 1) Have you ever considered art appreciation as a spiritual discipline? What might the potential value be? 2) Describe Paul’s missionary strategy in his speech in Acts 17:22-31. 3) How do we see Paul expressing receptivity, discernment, or God-encounter through the Greek poetry he quotes? 4) What experience do you have discerning which works of art you should or shouldn’t view through the lens of temptation and sin? 5) Have you ever encountered God through art in any of the ways Terry Glaspey described (or another)? 6) What connection is there between beauty where we encounter it and the grace of God in Christ?
Colossians 3:15-17 - Paul writes, "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus." The totality of Paul's statement tells us that there is a way to do art, making, and creativity in the character of and through the eyes of the Lord. In this sermon we consider 5 principles that help us apply all that we've been learning about art and faith as artists. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 5 of our series "Looking the World to Grace: Art, Makers and the Christian Life"]Questions for reflection: 1) How is the short biblical phrase "Is this not the carpenter?" (Mark 6:3) full of wisdom for our theology of art and faith? 2) How does human art take on special significance in our age of generative AI? 3) What are valid subjects for Christians' art? How does the question "How much of life is Jesus Lord over?" help us answer? 4) How can artists balance a commitment to excellence with a commitment to play and exploration? 5) Have you ever struggled with making an idol out of your art? What was that experience like? 6) How is discipleship in general intimately connected to our ability to make art "in the name of the Lord?"
Matthew 6:24; Jeremiah 6:13-14; Matthew 5:27-30 - Money, sex, and power, while not inherently evil, have long been understood as uniquely destructive potential idols. It turns out that they not only pose great dangers to our discipleship in general, but also to the arts. Love of money can degrade art into commercialism. Distorted sexuality can degrade art into pornography. Mis-pursued power can degrade art into propaganda. The answer, in both art and life, is to reject these idols for Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who leads us into goodness, beauty, and truth in all things. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 4 of our series “Looking the World to Grace: Art, Makers and the Christian Life”]Questions for reflection: 1) Money, sex, and power have often been identified as significant temptations for idolatry. What do you think sets these 3 apart from others? 2) What is so dangerous about the love of money for our spiritual lives? Why is it a threat to our art as well? 3) How do you identify propaganda when you see it? 4) Pornography is a killer of art, a cesspool of abuse and degradation among its performers, and a toxic source of addiction and distortion for its viewers. How can the church fight porn’s influence? How might Christians refuse to leave the realm of sexuality to the pornographers? 5) How is Jesus the answer to each of these idols? What does he uniquely have to say to each?
Various Scripture - According to Jesus, the Bible is the authoritative, inspired, unbreakable word of God that all leads to Him. The Bible is also a word of man with a very complicated and human history. At the same time, the Bible is a unified but incredibly diverse work of literary artistry spanning many authors, genres, and tones. To encounter the Bible is like stepping into a gallery containing the transcendently beautiful, the shockingly ugly, and the fascinatingly complex all at once. The Bible itself and as a whole is an irreplaceable guide for thinking Christianly about the arts. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 3 of our series "Looking the World to Grace: Art, Makers & the Christian Life"]Questions for reflection: 1) What is your relationship to the Bible like right now? What aspects of it are life-giving? What aspects are challenging or discouraging? 2) How did Jesus himself view the Bible of HIs day (the Old Testament)? What role did it play in His life? 3) Talk about the significance of God using human partners to author His sacred Scripture with Him? 4) What does it mean to read the Bible "literarily"? How/when does this overlap with a "literal" reading? How does it distinguish itself? 5) What do you make of the especially bizarre, grotesque, or dark biblical passages? 6) How might some of these ideas help get us beyond boredom with the Bible? 7) How does the life, death, resurrection, and reign of Jesus anchor our relationship to the Bible?
Exodus 25-31 - Does God care about human artistic excellence? Does He have aesthetic preferences? In Exodus 25-31 we learn much about the answer to these questions through His commissioning of the building of the tabernacle and its associated designs. We learn that He commissions human art, inspires human art, and empowers human art. And while we live in a new era this side of the cross, in many ways God remains the divine patron of the arts. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 2 of our series "Looking the World to Grace: Art, Makers and the Christian Life]Questions for reflection: 1) Have you ever been moved to humble reverence by a well-designed physical space? What was that like? 2) Cameron alluded to a tension for the church between financing God-glorifying art and financing gospel proclamation. How have you navigated this tension in your own view? 3) How did God operate as a commissioner, inspirer, and empowerer of human art in Exodus 25-31? Why do you think He did this? 4) Discuss the fact that God empowered a major work of human art to facilitate worship to Him. How many artistic mediums were involved? What was the purpose? 5) What is the connection between the tabernacle and the garden of Eden? 6) In what ways does the cross of Jesus change our view of sacred/religious spaces? In what ways does it not?
Genesis 1-2 - We begin a new series on the place of art and creativity in the Christian life with a consideration of the creativity of God. In Genesis 1-2, we learn that God is the metaphysical creator, the ordering craftsman, and the delight-giving artist. We also learn that He is the archetype, maker, and partner of human artists. We even get a glimpse of God's posture toward his creation after it has fallen into sinful rebellion. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 1 of our series "Looking the World to Grace: Art, Makers and the Christian Life]Questions for reflection: 1) Share an experience you've had with a work of art that produced a significant response. What was that like? 2) What kinds of teachings (if any) have you heard in Christian churches about the role of art and artists in the Christian life? 3) How does Genesis 1-2 depict the creativity of God? 4) Cameron highlighted God as metaphysical creator, ordering craftsman, and delight-giving artist. In what ways can humans reflect these qualities? In what ways can only God have them? 5) What was God's response to humanity's "defacing" of His art/creation?
Psalm 100 - The fourth traditional Advent theme is “love.” In this poem, the psalmist calls us into thankful, celebratory praise over the fact of God’s loving, good, faithful character. He reminds us that we have been created by God, that we belong to God, and that we are lovingly shepherded by God. All of this finds its fullest expression and fulfillment in both the first and second advents of Jesus, which also motivates and enable us to become conduits of God’s love outward to others. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 4 of our 2024 Advent series "Poems of Longing, Songs of Joy"]
Various scriptures - We step into 2025 with a refresh on our central vision and values as a church--our four pillars--and their connection to this year's unique vision of replacing technology's yoke with Jesus's. Our pillars are the cross (defining our theology), community (defining our membership), simplicity (defining our philosophy), and the city (defining our mission). The world and what we’ve been calling “the machine" they have their plans for us, but these pillars are our priorities because we believe they are Christ’s. In 2025, may we go further up and further in. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 4 of our vision series "Human Amidst the Machine"]Questions for reflection: 1) How has your relationship to technology been this past fall/winter? 2) Of the 4 pillars of Door of Hope, which most powerfully resonates with you? Which resonates least? 3) Have you made a commitment to our 7 disciplines (scripture, prayer, worship, community, giving, serving, inviting)? How has it been going? 4) How can we keep the cross central while not neglecting the various other important elements of Christian life and belief? 5) What are your prayers for our church as we enter the new year?
Psalm 98 - The third traditional Advent theme is "joy." Joy can be a vulnerable feeling to share with others as it is often associated with naivety or guilt. But joy is a major theme across both the Psalms and the whole Bible itself as well as the appropriate response to the character and salvation of God. In Portland earnest, expressive, vulnerable joy in Jesus might be one of the most counter-cultural postures we can take. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 3 of our 2024 Advent series "Poems of Longing, Songs of Joy"]Questions for reflection: 1) How are "joy" and "happiness" similar? How are they different? 2) In the Bible, joy can be held alongside and underneath negative emotions. What does it look like to have joy alongside grief, for example? 3) The psalmist looks to the past (to the mighty saving acts of God) and to the future (to the coming judgment of God) to find motivation to joy and praise. How is Christian joy experienced "in the painful middle?" 4) How does the structure of Psalm 98 point us to the increase of joy to come? 5) Why does the psalmist rejoice at the judgment of God? How can we rejoice at this judgment especially on this side of the cross of Jesus?
Psalm 85 - This psalm, a psalm of lament, invites us to consider our need for peace, what peace is, and when peace will come. But the Hebrew word for peace, "shalom," speaks of something far deeper than we typically think: a kind of universal wholeness and flourishing that only God can provide. Ultimately, God has delivered and will deliver this deeper peace through His Son, Jesus, who promised, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you." A sermon by Michelle Jones. [Part 2 of our 2024 Advent series "Poems of Longing, Songs of Joy"]Questions for reflection: 1) What are some differences between our common conception of "peace" and biblical "shalom?" 2) The psalmist declares, "Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other." How do these qualities meet in God? In the cross? 3) How will the second coming of Christ bring about the peace we long for? 4) Michelle asked us, "What would it look like for us to live into and out of God's peace?" What do you think?
Psalm 132 - We'll be spending Advent 2024 considering the traditional themes of hope, peace, joy, and love through the Psalms. In this sermon, Cameron introduced the Psalms as a book of poems, songs, and prayers that have led the people of God in how to bring their whole selves to God in worship and prayer. Psalm 132, specifically, is one of the "songs of ascents," sung by pilgrims on their way to the temple mount for key festivals. The psalm expresses a hopeful longing to encounter the presence of God based on His promises to King David--promises that were ultimately fulfilled in the advent of Jesus Christ. It is a refreshing picture in a world often embarrassed by earnest hope. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 1 of our 2024 Advent series "Poems of Longing, Songs of Joy"]Questions for reflection: 1) How do you perceive our culture's relationship to "hope?" 2) Psalm 132 emphasizes a longing for communion with God. Why is God's presence a consistent source of hope in the Bible? 3) Discuss the relationship between David's promises and God's promises in this psalm? 4) What promises in this Psalm found their ultimate fulfillment in Jesus? 5) Why does biblical hope contain both a backward-looking element and a forward-looking element? Why are things so difficult in the in-between? 6) In what sense can we say "In Jesus, everything is going to be ok"?
Galatians 4:4-7 - After establishing the genuine divinity of Jesus the creed turns to establish the genuine, full humanity of Jesus. In order to seek and save a people for Himself, God the Son entered the sin-stained world in actual flesh. He fully identified with us—even in our weakness—without ever giving in to sin. All of this that we might become the righteousness of God in Him through faith. A sermon by Josh White. [Part 8 of our series "The Nicene Creed: The Ancient Theology of the Triune God"]Questions for reflection: 1) Discuss the reality that God the Son knew both eternity as God and then finitude as man when He incarnated. 2) How is the incarnation (i.e. the “enfleshing” of the Son of God) an act of love? 3) Josh urged us to consider the extent to which Jesus identified with and experienced our fallen/sin-stained flesh without succumbing to sin. How does this make him a “sympathetic high priest” in the words of Hebrews 4:15? 4) How is the incarnation of Jesus our greatest and clearest revelation of/from God? 5) Describe the “salvation” that Jesus secures for us? What does he save us from? What does he save us for?
Colossians 1:15-17 - There are at least two ways to argue for the divinity of Jesus: First, from biblical statements about His identity as the Son of God and second, from biblical statements about what He did and does. This section of the creed reminds us that Jesus did something that only God can do: He created all things. It also reminds us of the other amazing things that Jesus did that led so many who knew him to utter "Truly this man was the Son of God." A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 7 of our series "The Nicene Creed: The Ancient Theology of the Triune God"]Questions for reflection: 1) Why do you think it was important for the creed to mention the divine act of the Son of God in creation? 2) How does the language of Colossians 1:15-17 help us understand Jesus as both "God" and "with God" in the act of creation? 3) Reflect on the claim that Jesus is both the agent of creation and the goal of creation. 4) How did we get an image of Jesus as creator God in his earthly miracles? 5) How do we (as Spirit-empowered witnesses to Jesus) play a role in imaging His creative and re-creative power?
John 1:1-18 - One of the primary aims of the Nicene Creed was to clarify what the Bible says about the divinity of Jesus. He was neither a lesser, "created" god nor a god with the (false) appearance of humanity. He was, as the creed declares, "the only-begotten Son of God, who was begotten of the Father before all ages, Light from Light, True God from True God, begotten, not made, having the same being as the Father." A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 6 of our series "The Nicene Creed: The Ancient Theology of the Triune God"]Questions for reflection: 1) Cameron mentioned three false beliefs about Jesus from church history: that Jesus was God in human disguise, that Jesus was created by God to be a lesser god, and that Jesus was merely an amazing human. Which of these do you hear argued for most often? 2) Why is the biblical claim that Jesus is both fully, genuinely God and fully, genuinely human important? 3) How is Jesus as the "only Son of God" different from us as adopted children of God? 4) Discuss the idea that God has eternally existed as both a Father and a Son (and Spirit)? 5) In Mark 2:5-7 Jesus claims to be able to forgive sins. What significance does this have for our understanding of Jesus's divinity?
1 Corinthians 8:5-6 - The second article of the creed focuses on the second person of the trinity--God the Son. This opening declaration that we believe in "One Lord, Jesus Christ" tells us about Jesus the human, Jesus the Messiah, and Jesus the divine Son of God. Each of these will be explored further in the creed, but for now we let them shape our answer to Jesus's greatest question: "Who do you say that I am?" A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 5 of our series "The Nicene Creed: The Ancient Theology of the Triune God"]Questions for reflection: 1) At a key turning point in his ministry, Jesus asked His disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" What answers do you see given by non-Christians that you rub shoulders with? 2) Why do you think our Christology (our doctrines/beliefs about Jesus Christ) especially distinguishes Christianity from all other religions? 3) What does "Christ" mean as a title for Jesus? Why is it important? 4) This phrase in the creed highlights Jesus as human, messiah, and God. How do these three identities relate to one another? 5) What was so radical about Paul's phrasing in 1 Corinthians 8:5-6? How can he both say there are not many Gods, and that there is one God (the Father) and one Lord (Jesus)? What is Paul getting at?
Genesis 1:1-2:3 - The creed declares God to be "maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible," and thus declares the natural outflow of who God is as life-giving Father almighty. In considering God as creator, we are pushed to consider Him as loving provider of free gifts of grace. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 4 of our series "The Nicene Creed: The Ancient Theology of the Triune God"]Questions for reflection: 1) Cameron mentioned that God has always been trinity, Father (and Son and Spirit), and almighty, but that He was not always "creator." What does this tell us about Him? 2) Theologian T.F. Torrance once wrote, “Far from grudging the creation’s existence and reality beyond himself, God freely brought it into being out of his sheer liberality, in order to lavish his love upon it.” Is this how you think of God as creator? Why or why not? 3) How does Genesis 1 speak of the overflowing love of God in its depiction of creation? 4) How does this creator God relate to His now fallen, sin-stained creation? 5) How does the Christian doctrine of creation help us avoid worshipping creation OR abusing/denigrating creation?
John 17:1-3 - The Nicene Creed rightly emphasizes the identity of God as "the Father, the Almighty." These two qualities together--the loving, compassionate, self-giving, life-generating fatherliness of God AND the endlessly powerful, capable might of God--distinguish this God from all others and are a powerful cornerstone of the Christian gospel. May we cherish the privilege of being made His sons and daughters through Jesus! A sermon by Josh Wilder. [Part 3 of our series "The Nicene Creed: The Ancient Theology of the Triune God"]Questions for reflection: 1) What comes to mind when you think of the word "father," "mother," or "parent?" 2) In what ways does human fatherhood illuminate the fatherhood of God? In what ways does it obscure the fatherhood of God? 3) What qualities of God are emphasized when the Bible talks about God as Father? 4) How does Jesus invite us into aspects of His Father-Son relationship to God the Father? 5) Why is it important for God to be both "the Father" and "the Almighty?" What would He be like if He were only one or the other?
Exodus 3:13-15; John 14:8-11; Acts 2:1-4 - The Nicene Creed begins with an affirmation that there is "one God," though it makes clear as it goes on that it is not only the Father, but also the Son and the Spirit who are also to be worshipped as God. With this statement, we are plunged into the heart of the mysterious, beautiful doctrine of who the Christian God is: the doctrine of the Trinity and the love of God. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 2 of our series "The Nicene Creed: The Ancient Theology of the Triune God"]Questions for reflection: 1) Why is it important that we spend the effort necessary to think rightly about God? Do you find it naturally exciting or difficult? 2) How is the Trinity different from polytheism (multiple gods), modalism (God shows up in different modes), and subordinationism (Jesus is a lesser god/entity)? 3) Why do you think the Trinity became such an important concept for Christians despite the word not appearing in the Bible? 4) Cameron (following Fred Sanders) argued that we might get our best glimpse at the Trinity in the major moments of salvation history--through the missions of the Father (at the Exodus), the Son (at the incarnation/crucifixion), and the Spirit (at Pentecost). As God acted to save His people, we learned more about who He is. What do you think of this? 5) In John 17:24, Jesus shared about the love He experienced from the Father before creation. What light does this shed on the idea that "God is love"?
Jude 3 - In an age where ideas and information come and go at the speed of light, there is a deep need for timeless truths that transcend our present moment. In the Nicene Creed we find a summary of “the faith once for all delivered to the saints” and step into a tradition that unites us with Christians across time, geography and the various branches of Christianity. As we anchor ourselves in this ancient statement of faith this year, may God help us see who He is clearly in more of His mystery, beauty, and love. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 1 of our series "The Nicene Creed: The Ancient Theology of the Triune God"]Questions for reflection: 1) Are you experiencing the ephemeral, quickly evaporating nature of ideas and information today? How does an ancient religious faith provide an antidote? 2) What has your relationship to the Apostles' Creed or the Nicene Creed been like? How have you viewed them? 3) Why are summaries of the basics of the Christian faith important for us? What is uniquely important about the Nicene Creed as one of these? 4) Discuss the authority of the creed relative to the authority of Jesus and the Bible. 5) Do you see evidence of people experimenting with "remixed religion" in your friendships? 6) Why is it important that we build our theology in community with others? How does the creed play a part in this?
Genesis 1:26-28; Matthew 22:36-40; Mark 10:28-31 - We are living amidst a loneliness epidemic. There are many reasons for it, but at least one is our retreat from embodied, flesh-and-blood, local communities into digital spaces. In the age of "the machine," it could be that one of the most valuable counter-cultural things we can do is fight for community among the people of God. And perhaps our most powerful witness to the good news of Jesus will come through our living as a Spirit-enabled picture of the love of God between us. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 3 of our 2024 vision series "Human Amidst the Machine"]
Psalm 104 - We continue our 2024 vision series considering more ways in which our digital culture leaves us feeling dehumanized and disembodied. In Psalm 104, we find a model for how to reclaim the lens of our ancient faith by moving from distraction to focused attention, from disenchantment to divine recognition, and from disposability to cherishing. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 2 of our 2024 vision series "Human Amidst the Machine"]
Matthew 11:28-30 - We begin our 2024 vision series with an examination of the dehumanizing, technological, inhumane age we find ourselves in: what we might call the age of the machine. Amidst all the other stressors of life, it seems our culture is uniquely suited to leaving us feeling distracted, disembodied, and disenchanted. We are anxious, lonely, and tired. Amidst all of this, Jesus's words are like rain in the desert. He promises rest for our souls, if we'll trade out the yokes of this age for His. This year, may we reclaim our genuine humanity in Jesus for one another and for our neighbors. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 1 of our 2024 vision series "Human Admist the Machine"]
Colossians 1:1-4:18 - The public reading of Scripture has been a significant practice for the people of God throughout history. As a church, we join the global and historic church in declaring that the Bible is the divinely inspired, wholly infallible, and completely authoritative Word of God that points us to Jesus, the Word of God made flesh. If this is true, then it is the case that every time people listen to the word of God together there is a fresh opportunity for encounter, obedience and transformation. In this message, a short teaching on the importance of publicly reading scripture is followed by a reading of the entire letter to the Colossians. [Part 8 of our series "Paul's Letter to the Church in Colossae"]
Colossians 4:2-18 - Paul concludes his letter to the church in Colossae with a set of final commands around prayer and witness before sending his greetings to and from a group of first century Christians. Even here we see that Christ has been faithful to knit together an improbably diverse community around Himself through HIs amazing grace. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 7 of our series "Paul's Letter to the Church in Colossae"]
Colossians 3:17-4:1 - In this passage Paul takes his ideas about the new humanity in Christ and imports them into the Greco-Roman household codes. The result is not the destruction of the household or its roles, but instead the radical reorientation of them all around Jesus. For those who listen, marriages, parent-child relationships, and economic relationships never were and will never be the same. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 6 of our series “Paul’s Letter to the Church in Colossae”]
Colossians 3:1-17 - In this passage, Paul turns the corner from the largely doctrinal to the largely practical. In light of who Jesus is and what He has done, how then shall we live? But rather than giving us license to sin or laws to perform, Paul centers our motivation on the gracious, saving work of Jesus and the new humanity He is bringing about. Secure in our life with Him, we are to acknowledge our new humanity with gratitude, take off all that is not part of it, and put on what is part of it, that we might be a picture of the life to come. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 5 of our series "Paul's Letter to the Church in Colossae"]
Colossians 1:24-2:5 - A sermon by Tim Coburn. [Part 4 of our series “Paul’s Letter to the Church in Colossae”]
Colossians 1:24-2:5 - In this passage Paul writes of his suffering on behalf of both Jesus and his gospel as well as the Colossian Christians he has never met. In Paul's example we are reminded that suffering is inevitable, but our faithfulness through it is dependent upon the depth of our love. Thankfully, Christ was faithful through His suffering first. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 3 of our series “Paul’s Letter to the Church in Colossae”]
Colossians 1:15-23 - Colossians 1:15-20 is one of the most Christologically-rich passages in the entire Bible. It’s poetic form and density of theological truth have made it widely recognized as one of the most powerful passages in the New Testament. In it we learn of Jesus as both the divine, transcendent creator of all things AND as the intimate, sacrificial reconciler between God and humanity. Paul follows it up with application that is as relevant to us as it was to the Colossians: if you want spiritual wisdom and depth, remain in Jesus and His one true unchanging Gospel. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 2 of our series “Paul’s Letter to the Church in Colossae”]#doorofhope #doorofhopepdx #doorofhopene #doorofhopenortheast #portland #pdx #gospel #jesus
Colossians 1:1-14 - A sermon by Ean Cornell. [Part 1 of our series exploring Paul's letter to the church in Colossae]#doorofhope #doorofhopepdx #doorofhopene #doorofhopenortheast #portland #pdx #gospel #jesus
Revelation 19-22 - The ending to our series on the Kingdom has to end where the whole biblical story does: with the return of Jesus and the final consummation of heaven, earth, and the Kingdom of God. Amidst all the strange poetry, imagery, and symbolism of Revelation's apocalyptic literature, we discover at least two basic themes about the return of Jesus. First, He will return as judge. Second, He will return as healer. In Jesus's final reign we find not only the fulfillment of every spiritual hope we've ever had, but also every political hope. In light of all of this, may we repent, believe, and take the water of life without price. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 12 of our series "One King and One Kingdom"]#doorofhope #doorofhopepdx #doorofhopene #doorofhopenortheast #portland #pdx #gospel #jesus
John 19:12-16 - Political ideologies tend to become all-consuming systems of thought that bend everything to their worldview and assumptions. In their own way, they can become similar to and examples of idolatry, biblically defined. In this passage, we see the power of ideology and idolatry as the religious leaders of Israel, standing before Jesus, vocalize a preference for the Roman Caesar over their long-promised Messiah-King and Son of God. How can we avoid similarly bending our Jesus to our political ideologies in our day and age? A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 11 of our series "One King and One Kingdom"]#doorofhope #doorofhopepdx #doorofhopene #doorofhopenortheast #portland #pdx #gospel #jesus
John 18:33-38 - After His arrest, Jesus was questioned by Roman governor Pontius Pilate. Their conversation--another one to see just what kind of King Jesus was claiming to be--revealed much about the nature of the Kingdom of God. Its power is not of this world, its methods are not by the sword, but it moves through peaceful witness and invitation to come follow King Jesus, who is the Truth. In this teaching we are also given an opportunity to reflect on how Jesus inspires us to understand our relationship to our own political system and to our vote itself. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 10 of our series “One King and One Kingdom”]#doorofhope #doorofhopepdx #doorofhopene #doorofhopenortheast #portland #pdx #gospel #jesus
Psalm 145 is a beautiful poetic reflection on the Kingdom of God from the archetypical human king: David himself. In revisiting the story of David and his relationship to the throne of Israel--the good, the bad, and the ugly--we are primed to ache with him for the coming king who will truly rule in all wisdom, justice, and grace. A sermon by Brette Way. [Part 9 of our series "One King and One Kingdom"]#doorofhope #doorofhopepdx #doorofhopene #doorofhopenortheast #portland #pdx #gospel #jesus
Matthew 22:15-22 - Jesus's enemies knew that one way to kill his influence was to make him publicly answer a hot-button "gotcha" question. In their day there were few hotter than the question of whether or not Jews should pay the poll tax to their Roman oppressors. In Jesus's inspired, full-of-divine-wisdom kind of answer, He models how kingdom people should think about package-deal partisan politics, the taxes we owe our governments, and, ultimately, what we owe God Himself. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 8 of our series “One King and One Kingdom”]#doorofhope #doorofhopepdx #doorofhopene #doorofhopenortheast #portland #pdx #gospel #jesus
Acts 2:1-21 - Pentecost was primarily about two things: First, the creation of a trans-national, multi-ethnic kingdom people of God and, second, the creation of a supernaturally-empowered kingdom people of God. In part two of our look at this amazing passage in Acts 2, we consider what it means for us to live in these last days where Jesus has baptized all of His people in His Spirit and empowered them for greater intimacy with Christ, formation toward Christ, and service to Christ. It is by the Spirit's empowerment that we can live into Jesus's vision for life as the firstfruits of the new creation. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 7 of our series “One King and One Kingdom”]Questions for discussion: 1) What was wholly unique and unrepeatable about the day of Pentecost described in Acts 2? What is now different as a result of the day of Pentecost? 2) We can understand this passage as the day Jesus baptized His people in the Holy Spirit. What are some things that happen when one is baptized in the Spirit? 3) Joel's prophecy tells of a day when God will pour out his Spirit on "all flesh" and then mentions several groups that will be empowered by the Spirit. What is the significance of the groups he mentions? 4) Cameron said we could conceive of the Spirit's empowerment in three overlapping categories: intimacy (the witness & leading of the Spirit), formation (the filling & fruit of the Spirit), and service (the gifts of the Spirit). Share some examples where you've seen the Spirit work in these ways, either in your own life or in the life of someone you know. 5) Joel used apocalyptic imagery in his prophecy to make the point that we now live in chaotic "last days" growing ever closer to the final "Day of the Lord" when Christ returns to establish his kingdom. What is our task in this time between the times?#doorofhope #doorofhopepdx #doorofhopene #doorofhopenortheast #portland #pdx #gospel #jesus
Acts 2:1-21 - The kingdom embassy we call the church was birthed on the day of Pentecost right after Jesus ascended to His heavenly throne. The day was a dramatic step forward in God’s plan to see His rule extended through people from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth, among every tribe, tongue, and nation. Through His cross and His Spirit, Jesus has reversed the curse of Babel and broken the barriers that divide humanity. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 6 of our series “One King and One Kingdom”]Questions for discussion: 1) Why were the disciples waiting at the beginning of Acts? What implications does this have for us? 2) The first public miracle of Pentecost involved translation of languages. Why is this so significant? 3) God always invited all peoples to Himseld. What did that look like in the Hebrew Bible? What does it look like under the New Covenant this side of Jesus? 4) Do you tend to feel more affinity with your fellow countrymen or with your Kingdom brothers and sisters? 5) How does your life in Portland relate to Jesus’s commission to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth?#doorofhope #doorofhopepdx #doorofhopene #doorofhopenortheast #portland #pdx #gospel #jesus
Matthew 5-7 - The sermon on the mount is the most influential sermon ever preached. It is the longest recorded unbroken teaching we have from Jesus's ministry. But what is it? We argue that it is an exposition of Jesus's basic message: "repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." It is a picture of what happens when God's kingdom comes and God's will is done in a human heart. It is a picture of what it looks like to love God with everything and love others as oneself. It's a manifesto for God's kingdom people, the ethics of the Kingdom, our marching orders from our king. It is Jesus's vision of the good, flourishing, abundant life. Empowered by the Spirit and covered by the grace of God, the sermon on the mount is a glimpse of who we are becoming as we follow after King Jesus. A sermon by Cameron Heger and Mindy Haidle. [Part 5 of our series "One King and One Kingdom"]Questions for discussion: 1) How familiar are you with the sermon on the mount? Where have you encountered it before? 2) There are many different ways the sermon has been understood. Cameron mentioned 3. Have you heard any others? 3) Dr. Jonathan Pennington makes the case that Jesus's purpose in the sermon is to provide a teaching for disciples to meditate on over time in order to be formed into the kind of virtuous, flourishing people that He envisions for us. How might we take Jesus up on this invitation? 4) The sermon on the mount sets an incredibly high standard for discipleship. Why are the Spirit's empowerment and the grace of God both essential doctrines to keep in mind when we consider the sermon? 5) What parts of the sermon most resonate with you? What parts are most challenging for you? 6) What implications does this teaching have for your engagement in your church community? For your engagement in politics?#doorofhope #doorofhopepdx #doorofhopene #doorofhopenortheast #portland #pdx #gospel #jesus
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 - Theologians talk about the Kingdom of God as an already/not yet reality. Jesus has inaugurated His Kingdom and reigns among His people today while we still await his second coming when the Kingdom will come in full. But how are we to live in this time between the times? In this passage, Paul gives us a key to understanding our identity as Kingdom people now: ambassadors living in exile. As ambassadors, we must learn to embrace non-conformity, non-violence, and loving witness toward those we find ourselves among. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 4 of our series "One King and One Kingdom"]Questions for discussion: 1) Christians will often say things like "this world is not our home?" What is a sense in which this is true? What is a sense in which this is false? 2) What is an ambassador? How does this term inform our relationship to the world around us? 3) What does it mean to say God's people are living in exile? 4) What is the message of reconciliation God has entrusted us with? 5) What would it look like for our community to live as a picture of the reign of king Jesus in Portland today?#doorofhope #doorofhopepdx #doorofhopene #doorofhopenortheast #portland #pdx #gospel #jesus
Mark 8:27-9:1 - After teaching and ministering among his disciples, Jesus put the question of questions to them: “Who do you say that I am?” Peter gave the right answer (The messiah! The king!) but didn’t understand what it meant for Jesus to receive his crown through the cross. We, too, must wrestle with what it means to follow King Jesus not into capitulation or violence, but into His way of sacrificial, suffering love. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 3 of our series “One King and One Kingdom”]Questions for discussion: 1) Can you think of a time when you’ve taken on the habits, aesthetics, or values of a leader or subculture? What was that like? 2) Peter correctly identifies Jesus as the Messiah but reveals he has a shortsighted view of what that meant. Why did Peter see the king but miss the spirit of the kingdom? 3) How was Peter acting like Satan in Jesus’s view? Why was Jesus so firm with Peter? 4) Why was the cross an essential part of Jesus’s enthronement? 5) What relationship does our suffering have to Jesus’s suffering?#doorofhope #doorofhopepdx #doorofhopene #doorofhopenortheast #portland #pdx #gospel #jesus
Matthew 27:27-31 - This sermon was not technically part of the "One King and One Kingdom" series as it was given on Good Friday 2024, but it is exploring the same themes and is a kind of counterpart to the sermon preached on 4/21. In this message, we consider how Jesus models the way greatness and power works in the Kingdom of God. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 2 of our series "One King and One Kingdom"]
Matthew 4:23-25 - An election year is a great time to reconsider Jesus’s teaching about the kingdom of God and the radical call to bend the knee to Him as king. We begin with a look at Jesus’s gospel message: the gospel of the kingdom. It is not only good news about the forgiveness of sins, but also about the victory and reign over Jesus over all competitors. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 1 of our series “One King and One Kingdom”]Questions for discussion: 1) How have you defined the gospel? Has it been informed by a kingdom lens? 2) How would you argue for “the kingdom” as the main idea of Jesus’s teaching ministry? 3) How was calling his message “the gospel” a challenge to Caesar? 4) What do we learn about the gospel message in verses 23-25? 5) This passage gives us hints about who the kingdom includes—who does it suggest?#doorofhope #doorofhopepdx #doorofhopene #doorofhopenortheast #portland #pdx #gospel #jesus
Romans 8:31-39 - We conclude our time in Romans chapter 8 with Paul's incredible exclamation point on the beautiful gospel truths he has been unpacking throughout. We couldn't say it better than Paul himself: "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Finally, in Jesus, the love that conquers death has come. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 6 of our series "The Cross, The Spirit & The End of Death"]Questions for discussion: 1) What do you make of the fact that disciples of Jesus have outlasted Caesar and the Roman Empire? 2) What makes the public death and resurrection of Jesus as the center of Christianity unique among world religions? 3) In this passage Paul states that Jesus was not only "given up" and that he "died," but also that he "was raised" and "is interceding." In what sense is Jesus alive today? What is he doing? 4) Paul lists a number of potential threats we might assume could separate us from God's love in Christ. How has Jesus overcome these? 5) What does it mean to say Jesus defeated death? For Himself? For us?#doorofhope #doorofhopepdx #doorofhopene #doorofhopenortheast #portland #pdx #gospel #jesus
Romans 8:26-30 - Through this passage we will focus on our relationship with the Holy Spirit during the process of sanctification. Paul helps us remember how our shortcomings, baggage, and trauma from the shrapnel of the fallen world impact our relationship with God. We will unpack the impact of the Holy Spirit on us in our fallen state. A sermon by John C Hughes. [Part 5 of our series "The Cross, The Spirit & The End of Death]A practice for reflection: This week, set aside 10-minutes for prayer once a day. First the first 3 minutes, focus on slowing down and ask God to reveal your shortcomings or your baggage that you bring with you. For the second 3 minutes, Praise God and thank Him for meeting in your brokenness and filling in the gap that our brokenness can create. For the final 4 minutes, ask God where He is leading you next in this holistic journey of healing that is found only in Him.#doorofhope #doorofhopepdx #doorofhopene #doorofhopenortheast #portland #pdx #gospel #jesus
Romans 8:18-25 - In a world where suffering abounds, we desperately need a hope that can both dignify our pain and overcome it. In this way the gospel of Jesus supplies what nothing else can, both for humanity and the rest of creation. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 4 of our series “The Cross, The Spirit & The End of Death”]Questions for discussion: 1) Do ever struggle with pessimism, cynicism, or nihilism? Why or why not? 2) Why is it important that the gospel validated the reality of our suffering? What if it didn’t? 3) Why do you think God subjected creation to futility? What was it in hope of? 4) How are humans’ and the rest of creations’ redemption connected? 5) What does it mean that the Spirit in us is the first fruits of the new creation? How does this inform our vocation in the world?#doorofhope #doorofhopepdx #doorofhopene #doorofhopenortheast #portland #pdx #gospel #jesus
Romans 8:12-17 - In this passage we learn about the glorious truth of God adopting believers into his family. The cross of Jesus enables us to become intimate daughters and sons of the God of the universe with all of its benefits. The Holy Spirit communicates that reality to the deepest parts of ourselves. And we can now call out to Him not just as God (which we should), not just as Lord (which we should), not just as king (which we should), but as Father... loving, gracious, generous, patient, good Father. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 3 of our series "The Cross, The Spirit & The End of Death”]Questions for discussion: 1) What is your relationship like with your parents at its best? With your children? How do these relationships lend insight into God's fatherhood? 2) Verse 15 speaks of falling back into fear through a spirit of slavery. Describe a time you've been tempted to settle for a subpar conception of your relationship to God. 3) Calling on God as "Abba, Father," is a unique privilege that Jesus has bought us. Reflect on what it means to approach the God of the universe this way. 4) How can we cultivate a "listening ear" for the "Spirit's bearing witness to our spirits that we are children of God"? 5) What does it mean to be heirs/inheritors "of God" and "with Christ"?#doorofhope #doorofhopepdx #doorofhopene #doorofhopenortheast #portland #pdx #gospel #jesus
Romans 8:5-11 - The second part of Romans 8 explores what it means to walk by the Spirit rather than by the flesh. This side of the cross, we have access to a life lived in step with the Spirit's influence, which first influences how we exist and who we are before it influences what we do. Through yielding to His work in our lives, we can behold another way, learn to be ruled by a new king, and belong to a new kingdom. A sermon by Michelle Jones. [Part 2 of our series "The Cross, The Spirit & The End of Death”]Questions for discussion: 1) Have there been any times in your life where you were hyper-aware that you were walking in step with the Holy Spirit? How did you know? 2) In so many words Paul writes that the flesh's influence leads us into death whereas the Spirit's influence leads us into life and peace. What does this mean? 3) There is an amazing declaration in verse 11: "the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you." Do you think of your life as infused with this much power? What would it mean if you did? 4) We all have moments when we walk more by the flesh than the Spirit. How do you think God sees you in those times? 5) Amidst all of the struggle in our lives and world, where do you see good news in this passage?#doorofhope #doorofhopepdx #doorofhopene #doorofhopenortheast #portland #pdx #gospel #jesus
Romans 8:1-4 - This week we continue through Lent into Resurrection Sunday with a consideration of Romans chapter 8, which is widely considered one of the most gospel-rich, beautiful, and hopeful chapters in the entire Bible. The first four verses highlight the end of all condemnation for those who are in Christ. But what is condemnation? And is it really necessary? And how does the end of it really become good news for us and for our neighbors? The answers are found in the death of Jesus on the cross, the resurrection of Jesus to new life, and His sending of the Spirit to those who have trusted Him. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 1 of our series "The Cross, The Spirit & The End of Death]Questions for discussion: 1) Cameron argued that our cries against injustice in the world are tied to God's condemnation against sin. Why do we need God to be a God who will condemn sin? 2) The Bible depicts God as one who cares about both the great tragedies of the world as well as the micro-, heart-level desires that we harbor (and everything in between). Talk about how this puts us on the wrong side of God's condemnation. 3) Into all of this, Paul declares "there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus." How does this truth land with you? 4) How was the law "weakened by the flesh?" 5) Discuss how God "condemned sin in the flesh" through Jesus's death. 6) How is the Holy Spirit's empowerment different from a pep talk meant to motivate us to keep the law?#doorofhope #doorofhopepdx #doorofhopene #doorofhopenortheast #portland #pdx #gospel #jesus
Romans 12:1-2 - We conclude our series considering a remaining major theme relating to worship across the Bible: the theme of sacrifice. As Jesus fulfilled the requirements of the temple sacrificial system Himself, he did so as an act of love, mercy, and grace. As one theologian put it, "In the New Testament religion is grace, and ethics is gratitude." In view of God's mercy and grace, we are now to offer our whole selves as living sacrifices, driven not by obligation or performance, but by gratitude. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 6 of our series “The Praises of His People: A Practical Theology of Worship”]Questions for discussion: 1) What is one notable sacrifice you've made either for God or another person? 2) What was the purpose of the sacrificial system in the Old Testament? 3) How did Jesus fulfill the sacrificial system? In what ways was he the "once for all" sacrifice? 4) Given what Jesus has done, what is the role of sacrifice in our lives? Or, what does it mean to be a living sacrifice? 5) We mentioned praise, service, and financial generosity as examples of biblical sacrifice. How do these fit into our larger understanding of worship?#doorofhope #doorofhopepdx #doorofhopene #doorofhopenortheast #portland #pdx #gospel #jesus
1 Corinthians 11:17-34 - Every church (and every person) lives with certain habits, traditions, and rituals—also know as liturgies. These play a role in both expressing and shaping our loves and desires. Properly understood and practiced, they too become important avenues of worship. In this sermon we consider the Apostle Paul’s words about The Lord’s Supper and their implications for all of our spiritual habits. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 5 of our series “The Praises of His People: A Practical Theology of Worship”]Questions for discussion: 1) When you think of habits, traditions, rituals, or liturgies, what comes to mind? Do you have a positive or negative association? Why? 2) In 1 Corinthians 11:17-34, Paul both commends the liturgical practice of communion AND condemns their engagement with it in a way that robs it of its meaning and power. How have you seen Christian rituals lose their power? 3) Cameron mentioned 3 postures toward liturgy: expectant excitement, disciplined commitment, and misunderstanding or distortion. What do you find your experience to be most often? 4) How does the gospel of Jesus inform and relate to our practice of the Lord’s Supper? How does it relate to our liturgical practices in general? 5) What habits in your own personal life would you like to remove? Which would you like to prioritize?#doorofhope #doorofhopepdx #doorofhopene #doorofhopenortheast #portland #pdx #gospel #jesus
As surprising as it sounds to many, our relationship to food is an important potential avenue for worship. For most, fasting and participating in the Lord’s Supper come to mind—but an often-neglected theme across the pages of scripture is feasting. God’s people have always been a feasting people and their feasting, at its best, has always been a joyful, celebratory, worshipful response to God’s character and work. May we learn to step into this great practice as we await the greatest feast yet to come when Jesus restores all things. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 4 of our series “The Praises of His People: A Practical Theology of Worship”]Questions for discussion: 1) What is the most memorable meal or feast you’ve ever been a part of? What made it so special? 2) Why did the Israelites break out into worship in Nehemiah 8:1-12? 3) Why do you think God commands feasting as a response to Him and His Word? What does this say about Him? 4) Nehemiah 8:10 says in part, ‘And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’ How is joy in God a source of strength? What does this mean for how we celebrate? 5) One of the greatest gifts of the gospel is an invitation to the wedding supper of the lamb (Revelation 19). How is our feasting today related to that great feast that is yet to come?#doorofhope #doorofhopepdx #doorofhopene #doorofhopenortheast #portland #pdx #gospel #jesus
Ephesians 5:18-19 - After considering the big picture perspective on worship in the Bible, we now turn our attention to worship through singing, in particular. God’s people have always been a singing people, but why? Why does God command and inspire us to sing? How does it engage our bodies in the postures of our hearts? And why is it important to sing in the presence of our brothers and sisters in the church? A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 3 of the series “The Praises of His People: A Practical Theology of Worship”]Questions for discussion: 1) What kind of relationship do you have with music in general? What about in the church? 2) Why do you think God values singing among His people? 3) Why is music uniquely suited to combining truth with emotion and mystery? 4) How does worship through music bring our inner worship outward to and through our bodies? 5) Why is singing in community an important part of Paul’s teaching here? #doorofhope #doorofhopepdx #doorofhopene #doorofhopenortheast #portland #pdx #gospel #jesus
John 4:19-26 - Jesus brought with Him a new understanding of worship that really was a step back toward the way of worship "in the beginning." Answering a question about where one must go to worship, Jesus answered that genuine worship could now take place anywhere as long as it was done "in spirit and truth." Understanding Jesus's words is the key to understanding both the nature of worship and the potential for all of life to be worship. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 2 of the series "The Praises of His People: A Practical Theology of Worship"]Questions for discussion: 1) Have you thought of worship as something that must take place at a particular place or a particular time? Share how you’ve understood it. 2) Paraphrase “worship in spirit and truth” in your own words. What was Jesus getting at? 3) Why are both “spirit” and “truth” important aspects of genuine worship? How might worship be distorted if one or the other is missing? 4) What does it mean that all of life is potentially worship? 5) Discuss how you might cultivate the ability to respond to God in every moment–even the most mundane.#doorofhope #doorofhopepdx #doorofhopene #doorofhopenortheast #portland #pdx #gospel #jesus
John 3:16-21 - Everyone worships. The question is "Who or what do they worship?" In this 6-part series, we will be considering the nature of Christian worship of the triune God both in the wide-angled big picture and in the practical details that we might be faithful worshipers. To begin, we consider some of the words of Jesus that reveal some incredible truths about God that sit in tension with one another: God is transcendent and God is immanent; God is just and God is gracious. Taken together, these truths describe a God we can't help but want to worship. He is worthy! A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 1 of the series "The Praises of HIs People: A Practical Theology of Worship"]Questions for discussion: 1) How have you conceptualized the nature of worship in the past? 2) Do you agree with the claim that all people (even irreligious people) worship something? Why or why not? 3) How would you make a case for God's praise-worthiness? 4) How are God's transcendence and immanence in tension with one another? How do they inform and balance one another? 5) Why do we need God to be both just and gracious? 6) How would you describe your worshiping life right now?#doorofhope #doorofhopepdx #doorofhopene #doorofhopenortheast #portland #pdx #gospel #jesus
Matthew 2:1-12 - What's underneath the human quest for power, and how does the story of Herod and the wise men show us the fundamental choice we face in life? As we examine an oft-repeated story with fresh eyes, we see the kind invitation of the Good King amid the heartache and yearning of our daily lives. A sermon by Pip Craighead. [Part 3 of the series "Advent According to Matthew"]
Matthew 1:18-25 - Matthew's account of the birth of Jesus focuses on the relational drama between Mary and Joseph receiving unthinkable news: the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. This is far from an incidental reality--it is the key to the idea that Jesus is "Emmanuel" or "God with us" in the deepest sense. It is also the key to the idea that Jesus is able to save us from our sins. It’s the best news imaginable. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 2 of the series "Advent According to Matthew"]Questions for discussion: 1) Why do you suppose God chose to bring about the birth of Jesus in such an emotionally fraught way for Joseph and Mary? 2) How does Jesus’s genuine humanity especially qualify him to be our judge and savior? 3) How does Jesus’s genuine divinity change the meaning of God being “with us” from how it was before the incarnation of Jesus? 4) Why is salvation from sin such a deep and urgent need for Jesus to meet? 5) Do you think of God as “with” you in your day-to-day life? What would change if you did?
Matthew 1:1-17 - This year for Advent we'll be considering Matthew's account of the birth of Jesus. In this story, we find the key anchor points that help define both the big-picture story of humanity and structures of our individual stories. Just what kind of story are we living in? If Jesus came and is coming again, then it is a story of deep meaning, realism, dignity, and hope. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 1 of the series "Advent According to Matthew"]Questions for reflection: 1) Do you have a history of celebrating Advent? What has it been like for you? Do you plan to celebrate this year? 2) Do you find yourself bored by genealogies in the Bible? Why do you think that is? 3) What surprising things do we learn through this particular genealogy in Matthew 1? 4) How does the gospel and the Christian worldview make sense of both our experiences of evil and joy? 5) How can the stories of Christmas and the 2nd coming of Christ stir us up to hope in an often hopeless time?
Hebrews 3:12-13; 10:19-25 - To conclude our series on the mutuality commands, we consider two final commands which speak to the fact that the believers in Jesus are meant to be active participants in the spiritual lives of one another. Following Jesus can be incredibly difficult, but He has not left us to follow Him alone. Among other helps, He has given us a family of brothers and sisters to aid us on the challenging road of discipleship. And the key to receiving this help and the rest of the blessings of the family of God is found in two words: "daily" and "together." Fighting for regular intimacy with one another is the foundation from which everything else flows. Daily, together, may we love one another. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 7 of the series "One Anothering: The Shape of Life Together in the Family of God"]Questions for reflection: 1) Can you think of a time where you've been "exhorted" or "stirred up" by a friend to follow Jesus more closely? What was that experience like? 2) Hebrews 3 assumes that believers will be temped to drift away from Jesus for various reasons. What are some areas of struggle, doubt, or temptation in your own life? 3) Why is regular, intimate fellowship key to actually being able to live out all that we've been considering these past 7 weeks? 4) How does Jesus's great command to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind... and Love your neighbor as yourself" (Mt. 22:37, 39) intersect with the mutuality commands? 5) What are some things a local church can provide that online content can't? And vice versa?
Romans 12:9-10; Ephesians 5:18-21 - To honor something is to correctly appraise its value and then respond accordingly. The people of the family of God are to build a culture of honor that stands in stark contrast to the world around us. One of the outflows of this mutual honoring is the call to mutually submit to one another--to view one's sister or brother as worthy of the higher status and to privilege their desires and needs over one's own. These are deeply challenging commands, but the blueprint for an incredibly counter-cultural Kingdom community. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 6 of the series "One Anothering: The Shape of Life Together in the Family of God"]Questions for reflection: 1) What is your biggest barrier to viewing your brothers and sisters in the church with awe and wonder? 2) Is there anyone you find particularly hard to honor? Without sharing names, what makes it difficult? 3) What kind of connotations of experiences do you have with the word “submit?” 4) Talk about the ever deepening relationship between two people that keep trying to “outdo one another in showing honor” and “submitting to one another”? 5) How does the gospel of Jesus make this kind of posture toward others possible?
1 Thessalonians 5:11; Colossians 3:16 - The New Testament's vision for life in the church has much to say about how we speak to one another. At the heart of our speech is the call to speak the mind, heart, values, and love of God to one another. As we increasingly abide in Christ, our speech will naturally become speech that encourages, teaches, and even challenges one another. A sermon by Bria Wolter. [Part 5 of the series "One Anothering: The Shape of Life Together in the Family of God"]Questions for reflection: 1) Have you ever been deeply encouraged by someone? What was that experience like? 2) Why is encouragement from others so necessary for the Christian life? 3) Bria mentioned a key to "putting courage into others" is to both see your brothers and sisters as God sees them and to tell the truth to them. What might it look like to practice this regularly? 4) How do our whole lives function as teachers? 5) How does Jesus's own encouragement and teaching toward us strengthen and define how we do the same toward others?
Galatians 5:13-16; 6:1-3 - Jesus himself said that he came "not to be served, but to serve." Therefore, it makes perfect sense that a call to take the posture of a servant: to practically meet the needs, seek the flourishing, and carry the burdens of one another would be a hallmark of life in Jesus's church. In this teaching we consider the call, its application, and Jesus's embodiment of it. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 4 of the series "One Anothering: The Shape of Life Together in the Family of God"]Questions for reflection: 1) How does the call to "serve" with its connection to slavery in Greek strike you? 2) How might we grow into the kinds of people who can first share our burdens with others? 3) Why do you think Paul highlights empathy and humility as necessary qualities for doing this well? 4) What are some wisdom principles that should guide our service and burden-bearing? When can these things turn into enablement and harm? 5) Discuss how Jesus has served us and continues to serve us who follow Him?
James 5:13-18 - At first glance, the commands to confess our sins to one another and to pray for one another may seem a little detached from the central call to love one another, but they are an avenue into closeness and healing that we underestimate at great cost. Here we find the key to fellowship as we really are and the power of God as He really is. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 3 of the series "One Anothering: The Shape of Life Together in the Family of God"]Questions for reflection: 1) What are your habits of prayer like right now? Even if they’re minimal, are they weighted more to particular subjects? 2) Do you typically think of prayer and confession as more individual disciplines or communal disciplines? 3) This side of the cross, what is the purpose of confessing sins to one another? 4) What are the potential dangers of ignoring these two commands? 5) If our church took these two commands seriously, how do you think we would be changed?
Colossians 3:12-14 - In this passage Paul gives two especially difficult mutuality commands: to forbear with one another and to forgive one another. These both presuppose that disagreements, discord, annoyance, frustration, burdens, pain, misunderstandings, and sins against one another both minor and major will happen between the people of Jesus’ church if we have enough proximity and intimacy. Even still, living out these commands enable us to experience and embody the gospel in uniquely powerful ways. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 2 of the series "One Anothering: The Shape of Life Together in the Family of God"]Questions for reflection: 1) Can you think of any prominent examples of forbearance or forgiveness in our culture at large? 2) What might the command to “bear with” someone you find difficult look like for you over the next few months? How might obedience to this command form you? 3) Do you find it easier to ask for forgiveness or to give forgiveness? Why do you think that is? 4) How is forgiveness different from immediate reconciliation? 5) Why is believing the forbearance and forgiveness of Jesus necessary for doing these things?
John 13:31-35 - In this sermon we begin a new teaching series considering the "one another" commands of the New Testament that define the kinds of relationships that are meant to make up the church, the new family of God that Jesus is building. The central command of all of the "one anothers" is the command to love one another. We begin here. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 1 of the series "One Anothering: The Shape of Life Together in the Family of God"]Questions for reflection: 1) What comes to mind when you hear the word 'love'? 2) Where do you see the biblical conception of love and a contemporary cultural conception of love overlap and where do they contrast? 3) Have you ever experienced anything like the church as a family as Jesus described it? 4) Why do you think Jesus has made "love one another" the central command for life in His church? 5) We are called to love "just as Jesus has loved you." How has Jesus loved you? How have you encountered it? What would it look like to love others with that same love?
Philippians 4:4-7 - Anxiety may come and go, but in this life it seems to touch everyone from time to time. In this sermon, we consider the unique resources the gospel provides to deal with anxiety and experience God's peace that surpasses all understanding. A sermon by Branden Brooks.
Jeremiah 29:1-14 - Since its beginning, Door of Hope has been focused on ministry to the city of Portland. Our city pillar reinforces our community values as a relational center of gravity, it defines our area of local missional focus, and it reminds us of the uniquely strategic nature of urban ministry. But how do we live as a redeemed presence in the city out of a love of God, one another, and neighbor? In this message we consider Jeremiah's letter to the exiles in Babylon and the call neither to assimilate nor separate, but to cultivate. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 4 of the series "Deeper: Four Pillars for Pursuing More"]
Matthew 6:25-34 - The "simplicity" pillar has historically been the most challenging to define for our church, though it grounds much of our ministry philosophy. In Jesus's words in Matthew 6, we find a helpful grid for maintaining a simple church: a single minded focus, a commitment to major on the majors and minor on the minors, and a non-anxious pursuit of doing fewer things better. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 3 of the series "Deeper: Four Pillars for Pursuing More"]
Acts 2:36-47 - This week we consider a vision for pursuing greater depth in community together. Following the model of the earliest church in Acts 2, we want to strive to be a cross-shaped community, a gathering and scattering community, a loving community, and a proximate community. We want to begin taking the thousands of small, incremental steps in hopes that one day we'll realize we’ve genuinely experienced the family of God that Jesus spoke of. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 2 of the series "Deeper: Four Pillars for Pursuing More"]
1 Corinthians 1:18-25 - Each fall is an opportunity to regather our church and commit ourselves to a fresh vision for another ministry year. This year, it seems God has been stirring the heart of our community to pursue something deeper. This first week, we consider what it might look like to go deeper through the cross, which is both the starting place of our faith (from which we will never graduate) as well as the entry way into loving communion with God (which will never be exhausted). A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 1 of the series "Deeper: Four Pillars for Pursuing More"]
Jonah 4:1-11 - The conclusion to Jonah is where the punchlines are given, the clarity is brought to what has come before, and it’s hearers are left with a piercing question we must answer: Should we not love that great city? A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 4 of the series "The Book of the Prophet Jonah"]
Jonah 3:1-10 - In Jonah 3, God commissions Jonah to go to Nineveh again and this time he goes. He preaches a shockingly short message and to everyone's surprise, the entire city repents! In these verses we see the compelling power of the grace of God even in the worst of places and even in the worst of ourselves. A sermon by Ron Friesen. [Part 3 of the series "The Book of the Prophet Jonah"]
Jonah 1:17-2:10 - After Jonah is thrown into the sea at his own request, everything changes. After getting what he thought he wanted, Jonah ends up in a place of desperation. He calls out to God for the first time in the book and is met with radical, humiliating, dignifying grace in the form of the great fish. It is his experience of both his need for grace and of God's willingness to give that grace that will set him on a new trajectory, and so it is with us, too. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 2 of the series "The Book of the Prophet Jonah"]
Jonah 1:1-16 - The book of the prophet Jonah is in equal parts funny and tragic, illuminating and strange. Our superficial familiarity with it can keep us from recognize the profound, cutting teaching it contains. At its heart, it's a story about God's complex love for a dangerous, cruel city and his prophet's refusal to share that love. In the first chapter, we are introduced to Jonah--this rebellious prophet--and the consequences of his refusal to be God's vehicle for God's message. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 1 of the series "The Book of the Prophet Jonah"]
Revelation 21:1-22:5 - We conclude "God of Every Good Thing" with the consummation of the themes we've been exploring as well as the consummation of the entire biblical story itself--the revelation of the New Heavens and New Earth. In this mysterious passage we see the deeper reality to which every joy in this life has been pointing. And the centerpiece of it all? The presence of God Himself, finally face to face with His image bearers once again. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 14 of the series "God of Every Good Thing"]
Genesis 1:28, 4:1-11; Revelation 21:1-2 - Theologians often speak of cities as magnifying glasses or multipliers. When many people are gathered together, both their strengths and their weaknesses are compounded. And while it is fair to consider the brokenness evident in cities, this week we consider the unique goods--the gifts from God--found in them. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 13 of the series "God of Every Good Thing"]
Psalm 91 - A standalone teaching looking to Psalm 91 for hope in God amidst the struggles of life. A sermon by John C. Hughes.
Genesis 8:22 - Are faith in Jesus and honest scientific inquiry in irreparable conflict? Many think so, but it need not be the case. In science, rightly understood and practiced, we find another good gift from God that can illuminate His power, beauty, and glory and ultimately aid us in our task of loving God and neighbor. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 12 of the series "God of Every Good Thing"]
Exodus 31:1-11 - How should we think about the experiences we've all had with human art? In this sermon, we consider a brief theology of art, the gifts of art, and a few practices for connecting with God through art. In the creative acts of his image bearers, we again find the goodness of God if we have the eyes to see. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 11 of the series "God of Every Good Thing"]
1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 - Work is a significant part of life, but it is all too easy to dismiss it as divorced from meaningful spiritual things, a necessary evil, a slog, or a punishment of some type. Work is often challenging and complicated, but it was part of God's good design from the very beginning. In our work today we can find good, gracious gifts from God if we have the eyes to see. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 10 of the series "God of Every Good Thing"]
Matthew 11:28-30 - Rest is a major theme of the Bible from God's initial rest after the six days of creation to the future rest that will attend the New Heavens and the New Earth. Today, genuine rest can seem hard to come by, but every instance of it should be received as a gracious gift from our giving God, and a reminder of the central truth that Jesus Himself came to give us a deeper rest than we can imagine. A sermon by Ean Cornell. [Part 9 of the series "God of Every Good Thing"]
Revelation 19:6-10 - We can rightly think of food and drink as the gifts and glories of the garden made consumable for our nourishment and pleasure. God didn't have to make food with as much delicious potentiality as He did, but He did as a pure gift to his creatures! In this teaching we consider how to receive food as the gift that it is as well as how to let it stir up our longings for the greatest feast of our lives--when we will finally be united with Jesus at the marriage supper of the Lamb. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 8 of the series "God of Every Good Thing"]
Amos 9:13-15 - From creation until now, gardens represent places of encounter with the presence of God, partnership with God, provision from God, and a source of joyful delight from God. This week, we consider the goodness of gardens by considering them in light of three important biblical gardens: Eden, Gethsemane, and New Jerusalem. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Ephesians 2:11-22 - This week we consider the good gifts of God found in relationship and community. Humanity was created to be relational to reflect our relational God and countless gifts flow from good, healthy relationships. This side of Pentecost with the arrival of the indwelling Holy Spirit and the birth of the church, the people of God now have the potential to experience a depth and richness of community that truly serves as a signpost of the world to come. A sermon by Pip Craighead. [Part 6 of the series "God of Every Good Thing"]
1 Corinthians 6:12-20 - In the second half of this series, we now turn to consider our relationships to specific "good things." This week, we consider the good gift of embodiment. The Bible presents the human body as a beautiful, essential part of who we are and the vehicle through which we experience all the rest that God has for us. Despite a surprisingly low view of the body in our culture, despite the capacity of our bodies to rebel against God, despite the pains and frustrations that attend all of our bodies to varying degrees... we must fight to understand the fundamental goodness of our bodies and live into the call to glorify God with them. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 5 of the series "God of Every Good Thing"]
1 Timothy 4:1-5 - In light of all we've learned so far, we pause for some practical application. How can we attune ourselves to really appreciate the gifts of God around us in the day-to-day? How can we turn these moments into opportunities to revel in His grace and to commune with Him? One essential way is through cultivating a habit of "holy attention." A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 4 of the series "God of Every Good Thing"]
Genesis 1:26-2:25 - In part 3, we consider the role of humanity, made in the image of God, in the created order. The first two chapters of Genesis paint an awe-inspiring picture of just how generous God has been to and through His people. How are we to receive every good thing that comes through human acts of cultivation and work? Once again (and perhaps surprisingly), as gifts from our generous God. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 3 of the series "God of Every Good Thing"]
Genesis 1:1-2:3 - In part 2, we consider the big picture of God's act of creation in Genesis. What is the significance of the "very goodness" that He declares over all that He made? What posture are we to take towards the world and all the things that He's filled it with? A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 2 of the series "God of Every Good Thing"]
Genesis 1:1; John 17:24 - We begin a new series looking to find the goodness, beauty, and grace of God in all the good things He has lovingly given. How might our discipleship to Jesus look different if we came to recognize every legitimately good thing as the gift that it is, pointing us to the Giver? We begin by considering the loving, giving nature of God, evidenced even before the creation of the world. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 1 of the series "God of Every Good Thing"]
Mark 16:9-20 - In this short addendum to our series through the Gospel According to Mark, Cameron talks through some of the issues surrounding the "longer ending" of Mark's Gospel, what it says, and why the vast majority of biblical scholars believe Mark didn't write it.
Mark 16:1-8 - The Gospel According to Mark ends on massive cliffhanger. An angel announces to the women that Jesus has risen from the dead, but the way Mark paints the scene is not how any of us would have expected. The question is why? The answer to that question reveals the purpose of Mark's Gospel and the challenge that comes to everyone who hears the beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Mark 15:40-47 - As Friday evening turns to Saturday, we see the true colors of several disciples as they rush to bury the body of Jesus before Sabbath. What does faithfulness look like in fear, in grief, in silence, and in waiting? What does it look like in the face of the evident defeat of one's Messiah and God? A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Mark 15:33-39 - The climax of Mark's gospel arrives with the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross. In this passage we see the unthinkable agony of Jesus being forsaken by his Father, the meaning of his death in the tearing of the temple veil, and the final truth that Mark has been building toward: "Truly this man was the Son of God!" A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Mark 15:16-32 - The Gospel According to Mark slows down to paint an incredibly detailed picture of Jesus's crucifixion. Here we see the meaning, irony, and deep surprise of the cross--for the Son of God to suffer alongside and for us in order to save us. A sermon by Chris Nye.
Mark 15:1-15 - Jesus, the King of the Jews, stands before Pontius Pilate, the Roman prefect, awaiting the final decision concerning His fate. In this story we see two very different kinds of rulers. We also see two very different kinds of criminals in Barabbas, the justly condemned, whose penalty is taken by Jesus, the one true innocent. This moment in history is loaded with meaning about the nature of God, humanity, and the cross itself. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Mark 14:66-72 - Peter faces a trial of his own as he follows Jesus at a distance. Questioned about his association the Lord, he ends up denying Jesus just as predicted. Though this moment of brokenness is the end of Peter's story in the Gospel of Mark, Jesus had so much more for him on the other side, just as He does for all who come to him in humble repentance. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Mark 14:53-65 - Jesus faces the miscarriage of justice at a sham hearing before the religious authorities ultimately to be condemned to death. While He listens in silence for most of it, He finally gives these people a definitive answer to the most pressing question of all: "Who are you?" Jesus's answer challenges every other authority, identity, and would-be savior we might turn to. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
A short church community update for the season of Lent 2023. A call to pursue Jesus over the next 40+ days by setting down one habit and picking up another, all with the goal of making space to pursue Jesus in repentance and confession, connection and abiding, gratitude and generosity.
Mark 14:43-52 - The hour has come for Jesus to be arrested. In his interactions with betraying Judas, the seizing crowd, and the fleeing disciples, we see the radical love of God. In witnessing Jesus's loving example, we are invited to experience it ourselves and to become conduits of it toward others. A sermon by Michelle Jones.
Mark 14:32-42 - In his last moments of freedom before his arrest, Jesus seeks out a moment with his Father in prayer with his friends nearby. Staring down the cup of the justice of God he is soon to drink, he is overcome with crushing fear, anxiety, and dread. In this passage we see the real suffering humanity of Jesus alongside his ultimate submissive faithfulness driven by his unfathomable self-giving love. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Mark 14:26-31 - On His way to Gethsemane, Jesus announces the certainty of all of the disciples' coming failure and abandonment. In the same breath, He promises to meet with them again on the other side of his death and resurrection. Here we see a stunning picture of the gracious heart of Jesus--a grace we all desperately need and a grace that will change our lives . A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Mark 14:22-25 - During the Passover meal, Jesus institutes a new practice by which His disciples will remember him. They are to take the bread and the cup, representing his body and his blood soon to be given in a New Covenant for the forgiveness of sins. In the communion meal we continue to encounter this Jesus, who is himself the ultimate sacrament. A sermon by Josh White.
Mark 14:12-21 - Jesus spends his last night celebrating the Passover with his twelve closest disciples. It is no accident that this night, loaded with salvation-historical significance, is the night Jesus was betrayed. In this passage Jesus Himself is shown to be the true, better, and final Passover Lamb. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Mark 14:1-11 - What happens when sacrificial worship meets our utilitarian, logical instincts? In this story we are challenged by the faithfulness of a woman who knew the value of the Messiah standing in front of her, and a Messiah who valued humanity beyond measure. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Matthew 7:13-14 - Jesus begins his final summary and application of His sermon on the mount with a call to choose a road. There is a wide, (nearly) all-encompassing path of least resistance. There is a narrow, singular path with and through Jesus. In this passage we find a powerful word for a new year, a challenge to forsake our default settings and follow Jesus wherever He leads, which is ultimately to life itself. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
John 1:1-18 - A brief homily considering the introduction to John's gospel, which presents Jesus as the light of divine revelation, the light of divine wisdom, and the light of the divine love. We are reminded that Jesus truly was born to be the light of the world. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
1 John 4:7-21 - The final advent theme we consider this year is "love," which was made known with new power at the incarnation of the Son of God. In this passage, we discover surprising truths about God's love for God, God's love or the world, and God's love for and through His people. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Luke 2:8-21 - The announcement of the savior's birth to the shepherds was one that rightfully led to "great joy." In this passage we learn that God's own joy is wrapped up in His generosity toward His people and that ours is wrapped up in receiving what He longs to give us. A sermon by Josh Wilder.
Luke 3:1-18 - John the Baptist's work of preparation for Jesus's public ministry models for us important aspects of our preparation for Jesus's second coming. Those who serve the Prince of Peace are called to continual repentance and to bear fruits of peace, love, and justice as we wait for Him to bring them all in full. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Psalm 130 - We begin Advent this year considering the first of the traditional Advent themes: hope. When the depths and darkness surround, we are encouraged to find hope in our waiting for God by reminding ourselves of God's past faithfulness. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Mark 13:1-37 - In this conclusion to the section involving Jesus's assessment of the temple's leadership, Jesus pronounces coming judgment and gives his disciples specific instructions on how to prepare. A sermon by Josh Wilder.
Mark 12:38-44 - Jesus gives report cards to a group of Scribes and a poor widow. In them we get a powerful critique of pretentious and status-obsessed religiosity and a simple picture of what genuine, worshipful, generous spirituality looks like according to Jesus Christ. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Mark 12:35-37 - Jesus raises a question about the identity of Israel's messiah. He takes issue with the assumption that the messiah will be merely a human descendant of David. In this teaching, we are challenged to consider how we may have settled for a lesser messiah than the real Jesus. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Mark 12:28-34 - A final question concludes the gauntlet Jesus has been put through. This one is the question of questions: What is the most important command in all of the Scriptures? On what does everything else hang? In Jesus's response, we see the very heart of what it means to follow Jesus--the heart of Christianity itself. May we have the ears to hear. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Mark 12:18-27 - The Sadducees ask Jesus a "gotcha" theological question meant to discredit His beliefs. Is belief in God's final defeat of death, a resurrected people, and a recreated world inherently nonsensical? Or worse, is it dangerous? Or is it the key to flourishing in this life? A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Mark 12:13-17 - Jesus is asked a hot-button political question meant to discredit or endanger Him. In His surprising response, Jesus demonstrates an unwillingness to neatly fit into the political categories of his day, demonstrating faithfulness to the Kingdom of God over against any human ideology. In doing so, He challenges his disciples to smash their political idols. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Mark 11:27-12:12 - In this section of Mark, Jesus overturns the trap that the religious leaders have laid for him and exposes their own hypocrisy. But he doesn't stop there. He tells them a parable that presents them as continuing a long tradition of rebellion against God. These confrontations are important steps that move him closer to the cross--the very place where the judgment and forgiveness of such rebellion is accomplished. A sermon by Josh Wilder.
Mark 11:1-25 - We resume our study of the Gospel According to Mark with the book's second major turning point: the "triumphal entry" of Jesus as the rightful King of Israel on Palm Sunday. For his first order of business, the King does some confusing things that all reinforce a central theme: appearances can be deceiving and a poor substitute for genuine, prayerful faith. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
1 Peter 2:9-12 - Our vision series concludes with a call to recommit to our identity as witnesses. Throughout human history God has always chosen particular people to both enjoy intimacy with him AND to extend the invitation outward to others that they might come enjoy the same. The church, empowered by the Holy Spirit, is called to bear witness to the beauty, goodness, grace, and glory of Jesus that others might experience Him for themselves. At Door of Hope Northeast, we must reclaim this identity individually, communally, and institutionally. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 3 of our fall 2022 vision series "Begin Again"]
Philippians 2:12-16 - We continue our recognition of this season of new beginnings with a call to recommit to our identity as learners. In his wisdom, God has chosen to work in part through his Spirit-indwelt people in the here and now. This means it is crucial that we take the task of learning, maturing, being sanctified, and becoming spiritually formed seriously for the love of God and the good of our family, neighbors, and ourselves. In the words of Paul, we are to "work out our salvation," all the while knowing that it is God's gracious activity that drives it all. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 2 of our fall 2022 vision series "Begin Again"]
Mark 10:28-30; 61 one another passages - Door of Hope Northeast had anything but a "normal" beginning. After months of build up, we had two worship gatherings together before an extended season of fragmentation due to the COVID pandemic. Our entire story as a church has been written in its shadow. After so much separation, hardship, transition, and even a busy and disconnected summer, many key leaders as well as the elders of our church have come to feel that this fall represents a crucial moment reconnection for our church. It's time to move from pursuing mere surviving to pursuing whole-hearted thriving in what God has called us to. We begin by discussing Jesus's vision for the church as a family. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 1 of our fall 2022 vision series "Begin Again"]
A conversation with John Barry Van Hoogen, planting pastor of Boise Gospel Church, one of Door of Hope Northeast's new ministry partners. Learn more about their heart for sharing the gospel in Boise and ways to support their work.
Acts 7:51-53; Ephesians 4:25-32; 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21 - The doctrine of the Holy Spirit is filled with promises that can never be lost as well as opportunities that must be seized. We conclude our time in this series with three things to avoid, three things to pursue, and a vision of what our life as a Spirit-led, Spirit-filled, Spirit-empowered community could look like as we begin the journey. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 10 of the series "The Spirit & His Gifts"]
A short church community update for the month of September 2022. A call to make every effort to gather together September 11, 18, and 25 as a time to recommit to one another, the vision of our church, and a new ministry year.
Romans 8:14-17 - Romans 8 is one of the New Testament's clearest teachings on how the Holy Spirit leads his people, and these verses are the apex of that teaching. Here we learn that the Spirit is at work bearing witness to His people that they have been made beloved children of their Father God. And receiving this from the Spirit just might be the key to living the Spirit-empowered life we've been exploring. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 9 of the series "The Spirit & His Gifts"]
1 Corinthians 12:8-11 - The New Testament speaks of Spirit-empowered gifts of healing. What are we to make of these gifts? How are we to pursue them? And how should we respond if we don't experience them? A sermon by Josh Wilder. [Part 8 of the series "The Spirit & His Gifts"]
1 Corinthians 12-14 - God through the Apostle Paul commands his readers to pursue spiritual gifts--especially prophecy! Despite theological controversy and practical confusion, obedience demands we open ourselves to a seeking, discerning, honest relationship to the revelatory gifts of the Spirit. All of this while we trust God to gift each of us individually and together as a community just as He wills. [Part 7 of the series "The Spirit & His Gifts"]
Romans 12:3-8 - Spiritual gifts enable the church to function as the body of Christ, with each part crucial for the health and maturing of the whole. Part of growing as a church is encouraging each member to identify and celebrate how they are gifted, remembering that no matter how mundane some gifts seem, they are all honored by the God who gives them. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 6 of the series "The Spirit & His Gifts"]
Ephesians 4:7-13 - God uses his power like no one else--sharing it, using it to build others up, demonstrating radical generosity. So when His Spirit supernaturally empowers His people, they are called to do the same. As we begin a several-week discussion of the spiritual gifts, we start by defining them as Spirit-empowered abilities given freely to each of His people as he sees fit for maturing the church community. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 5 of the series "The Spirit & His Gifts"]
Galatians 5:16-25 - A vital connection to Christ through His Holy Spirit can't help but produce fruit in the life of a disciple. What is this fruit? And how can we move forward in such a way that He can produce it in our lives? A sermon by Josh Wilder. [Part 4 of the series "The Spirit & His Gifts"]
Ephesians 5:18-21 - There are few doctrines as simultaneously confusing and crucial for living the Christian life as the nature of what it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit. In Paul's clearest teaching on this in Ephesians 5, we learn that we are commanded to continually pursue this filling and just how crucial it is for living the Christian life with power and integrity. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 3 of the series "The Spirit & His Gifts"]
Acts 1-2 - On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit of God was poured out powerfully, marking one of the most dramatic turning points in history. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit had come and is now one of the incredible blessings of the Gospel for all who have trusted Jesus. May we celebrate the Spirit making his home within us and all that it means. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 2 of the series "The Spirit & His Gifts"]
Various scriptures - As we begin a new series exploring the Holy Spirit, we must start by answering some fundamental questions: Who is the Holy Spirit? What has He been doing? And what are the promises God has made about the Spirit for our time? A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 1 of the series "The Spirit & His Gifts"]
Mark 10:46-52 - Jesus encounters a blind beggar crying out for mercy. Though the crowds dismiss this man, Jesus brings him close. In this man we see the kind of desperate faith that defines the ideal disciple in Jesus's kingdom. Do we share it? A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Mark 10:32-45 - In this passage Jesus predicts his death a third time and is once again met with the disciples fighting for their own positions. But power and glory and greatness are utterly upside down in His kingdom, as Jesus not only teaches but models in the deepest ways imaginable. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Mark 10:28-31 - Jesus challenged people to leave everything: wealth, status, even family--all our places of security--to follow him. What does it mean for us to "leave everything" today? A sermon by Josh Wilder.
Mark 10:17-31 - In his encounter with a rich young ruler, Jesus raises deep questions about a disciple's relationship to wealth and idols. Who can be saved? With man it is impossible, but with God all things are possible. A sermon by Josh Wilder.
Mark 10:13-16 - In this passage the disciples were shocked by Jesus's words and actions toward children. In it we receive the call to value children, to disciple children, and to become like children. This message was part of our communal lament of the acts of mass violence in our country over the past few weeks. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Mark 10:1-12 - Jesus's teachings continue to get more personal as he continues his journey toward Jerusalem. In this passage, the Pharisees bring a tense question to Jesus about the nature of divorce and he answers with a discussion about the heart of marriage. What does it mean for humans to image their creator in marriage? The beauty of the answer might surprise you. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Ephesians 4:1-16 - The New Testament knows nothing of a disciple of Jesus who is not part of a local church. The local church is the place where we actually work out our theology in our real lives and real relationships. It's where we are helped by and contribute to the beautiful diversity of the family of God. It is the place where we are, together, built up to maturity in love. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 4 of the series "Theology in Community"]
Jude 3-4; Acts 2:5-11 - Jesus has been building his church across history and across the globe ever since he birthed it by his Spirit on the day of Pentecost. Though expressed in different ways, the church in each place is tasked with protecting the "faith that was once for all delivered to the saints." If we're going to faithfully interpret Jesus and his Scriptures, we should allow ourselves to be sharpened by the learnings of our brothers and sisters that make up the universal church. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 3 of the series "Theology in Community"]
2 Timothy 3:16 - If we're going to be faithful to Jesus, we must be faithful to the Bible that He viewed as authoritative and trustworthy. At the same time, in doing theology with the Scriptures we are also doing theology with the Holy Spirit of God, who inspired their writing and who illuminates them for us today as we submit to them. A sermon by Josh Wilder. [Part 2 of the series "Theology in Community"]
1 Corinthians 15:12-19; Luke 24:27; Hebrews 1:1-4; John 14:5-9 - No one can escape the reality of being a theologian--the question is whether we're faithful ones. But how can we be confident we're not pursuing a faith of our own creation? One of the most important supports we can lean into is community. And there is no better foundation on which to do theology than in community with Jesus Christ, the Son of God Himself. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 1 of the series "Theology in Community"]
Matthew 28:1-20 - Though Easter is an annual celebration that can easily become old news or commonplace, there are mystifying, scandalous, almost impossible claims at the heart of it. May we learn to see the utterly category-breaking immensity of the resurrection of the Son of God afresh this year. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Luke 23:46 - An exploration of Jesus's seventh statement from the cross from our Holy Week 2022 evening gatherings. A sermon by Josh White.
John 19:30 - An exploration of Jesus's sixth statement from the cross from our Holy Week 2022 evening gatherings. A sermon by Josh White.
John 19:28 - An exploration of Jesus's fifth statement from the cross from our Holy Week 2022 evening gatherings. A sermon by Josh Wilder.
Mark 15:34 - An exploration of Jesus's fourth statement from the cross from our Holy Week 2022 evening gatherings. A sermon by Josh White.
John 19:26 - An exploration of Jesus's third statement from the cross from our Holy Week 2022 evening gatherings. A sermon by Josh White.
Luke 23:43 - An exploration of Jesus's second statement from the cross from our Holy Week 2022 evening gatherings. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Luke 23:34 - An exploration of Jesus's first statement from the cross from our Holy Week 2022 evening gatherings. A sermon by Josh White.
Luke 19:28-40 - For his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Jesus selects not a war horse, but a donkey. He is the Messiah, but not one like so many were expecting. A sermon by Josh Wilder.
John 11:17-44 - The season of Lent has historically been a time to reflect on death and mortality in relationship to the hope Christians have in Jesus. In this passage from the Gospel According to John, we get to learn from how Jesus reacts to the death of a close friend and the grief it produces. We're also reminded of his power and victory over the grave that changes everything. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Mark 9:42-50 - In possibly the most controversial passage in the Gospel According to Mark, Jesus continues teaching his disciples about relationships in His kingdom. Just how committed is Jesus to love, service, and peace amongst his followers? To understand, we have to explore the doctrines of judgment and hell. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Mark 9:38-41 - In this passage, the disciples bring up someone outside of their circle who is doing ministry in Jesus's name. In Jesus's dealing with their insecurity we find a powerful challenge to our own jockeying for position in an inner circle to the exclusion of others. The answer? Come receive all you need in Jesus once and for all. A sermon by Josh Wilder.
Mark 9:30-37 - Jesus talks about his betrayal and death while the disciples argue about their own positions. In this passage, we learn about the nature of greatness in the Kingdom of God--where the way down is the way up. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Mark 9:14-29 - Coming down from the mountain once again into the struggles and chaos of daily life, Jesus and his disciples have an encounter with a family in the throws of demon oppression. How much faith does it take to find victory? The answer might surprise you. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Mark 9:1-13 - At the (literal) central peak of the Gospel According to Mark, Jesus's appearance is transfigured as he's revealed in all of his divine glory--the one to whom God the Father commands us to listen. So who is Jesus? The messiah, the suffering servant, the son of man, and the glorious Son of God in human flesh. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Mark 8:34-9:1 - In this next text from the turning point of the Gospel According to Mark, Jesus doubles down on the difficult implications of what it means for him to be the Messiah, and what it means for the Messiah's disciples. It's a hard word, but an invitation into something more beautiful and grace-filled than we can imagine. A sermon by Josh Wilder.
Mark 8:27-33 - At the turning point of Mark's gospel, Jesus finally asks the disciples the most important question one can ask--who is this Jesus? Their conversation reveals that he is the Messiah, but not the kind they were expecting. It raises the question for us: will we let Jesus be who he is or will we demand that he conform to our expectations? A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Mark 8:22-26 - In another short healing narrative, Jesus restores a blind man's sight. As amazing as that miracle is, it points to even greater realities beyond itself for all who have the eyes to see. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Mark 8:1-21 - In this passage, Jesus miraculously feeds a huge crowd of Gentiles, but the Pharisees demand more signs and the twelve disciples can't overcome their fears. It's easy to mock the ways in which these two groups missed Jesus here, but we may be more like them than we want to believe. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Mark 7:31-37 - In another healing narrative, Jesus encounters a man with significant hearing and speech issues. His considerate compassion for this man reveals much about how Jesus's disciples are to understand our king, our neighbors, and ourselves. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Revelation 2:1-7 - The words of Jesus to the church in Ephesus serve as a powerful call for any who have let their love for Jesus turn cold to rekindle the flame. But how? A sermon by Josh Wilder.
1 Cor. 1:18-25; Mk. 10:28-31; Matt. 6:30-33; 2 Cor. 5:17-20 - The four pillars of Door of Hope have helped shape its identity and vision since the beginning, first as a single church and now as a family of churches. In this message we explore the scriptural bases and key ideas behind the cross, community, simplicity, and city pillars. Just what kind of church do we believe God has called us to be? A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Philippians 3:12-16 - As we begin another year, we take a look at a short passage from Paul's letter to the Philippians for a reminder of the powerful reality of the free gift of grace that God extends through the cross of Jesus. Neither tireless striving nor lazy presumption will flow out of a heart that glimpses what it means to have been made Christ's own. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Matthew 1:1-2:12 - Matthew's account of the birth of Jesus is all about contrasts: between what the people were expecting of their Messiah and the reality; between the glorious truth of God coming to dwell amongst his people and the actual humble circumstances of his birth; between responses of violence and responses of worship. In this passage we get a fresh glimpse of our glorious God and humble king. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
John 1:1-13 - Rather than give us a Christmas story with Mary and Joseph, shepherds and angels, John describes the arrival of the Son of God in terms of his mission: to bring light into a dark world. A sermon by Josh Wilder.
Various scriptures - In this message we looked at the overarching story of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament and how it builds toward the hope for a messiah to come and put things right. In that story we find a connection between ancient Israel's hopeful longing before Jesus's first advent and our hopeful longing before Jesus's second advent. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Luke 1:5-25 - Life is full of hopes and longings. The failure of these hopes to materialize often leaves us hardened and despairing. Zechariah and Elizabeth's long overdue hopes for a child of their own and for Israel's Messiah began materializing in God's time. A sermon by Josh Wilder.
Mark 7:24-30 - Jesus perplexes us with some controversial words to a Gentile woman. The real shock, however, is that in doing so, he not only demonstrates again that cleanliness is not a matter of externals, but shows God's heart in touching any of "those people" who presume upon his goodness rather than their own. A sermon by Josh Wilder.
Mark 6:53-7:23 - Jesus has an intense encounter with the religious leaders of his day around the question of what exactly makes someone unclean before God. Jesus's answer gets to the heart of his mission and the heart of the gospel. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Mark 6:45-52 - The disciples have witnessed and participated in many miracles that reveal Jesus’ divine identity. Yet they did not understand because their hearts were hard. A sermon by Josh Wilder.
Mark 6:30-44 - The story of Jesus miraculously feeding five thousand is more than another testament to His power... it is the culmination of countless promises and themes that stretch back to the first book of the Bible. It reveals Jesus to be the good shepherd that every heart has longed for. It also begs the question: in light of who he is, what are we supposed to do? A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Mark 6:14-29 - In this grotesque story, Mark flashes back to the unjust, brutal death of John the Baptist at the command of Herod Antipas, Tetrarch of Galilee. As we learn about a king motivated by lust and ego, we're reminded of just what kind of King Jesus is and isn't. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Mark 6:7-13 - In this passage Jesus sends out the 12 disciples to carry on his work of proclaiming the good news and meeting the needs of those they encounter. Here we get a preview of the mission he will give to his church in general and to our own church here at Door of Hope Northeast. A sermon by Sean.
Mark 6:1-6 - Jesus returns briefly to his hometown but is met with agitation rather than a hero's welcome. In this passage we're reminded of how easy it is to let overfamiliarity with Jesus produce a tragic boredom, indifference, or even opposition to him, his glory, and the path of discipleship. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Mark 5:21-43 - A man with a dying daughter and a woman who has suffered and been outcast for 12 years come to Jesus in their desperation. Jesus's patience, compassion, and power surprise everyone. Who is this Jesus who can lovingly speak the dead back to life? This passage demands an answer from us. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Our Fall 2021 vision series concludes with a vision for 5 crucial facets of our future selves. By the grace of God may we grow into these as individuals and as a community. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Ephesians 4:1-16 - We continue our Fall 2021 vision series considering God's vision for community in general and a call to lean into our unique opportunities as a relatively young and relatively small church. How might we, in particular, cultivate that kind of community? A sermon by Josh Wilder.
Psalm 126 - We begin our Fall 2021 vision series reflecting on our first year-and-a-half as a church. Psalm 126 and Joshua 4 remind us of the importance of discipling ourselves to remember the goodness and faithfulness of God in the past, individually and communally, to help us hope for the future.
A church community update for the month of September 2021. An update on the Door of Hope Northeast staff team as well as a call to return to worship for those who are able.
Mark 5:1-20 - In this passage, Jesus faces off against a legion of demons possessing a gentile man. It's a horrifying scene, but for Jesus it's primarily another chance to showcase his power and goodness and to graciously draw another helpless and hopeless of his image-bearers to Himself. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Mark 4:35-41 - The calming of the storm is one of Jesus's most well known miracles (and for good reason). In this story we learn about Jesus's genuine humanity, his full divinity, and the heart of a savior who alone can sustain us through the storms that are sure to come. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Mark 4:26-34 - In this passage, Jesus shares two more parables about the simple and surprising way his kingdom grows. Will we have the ears to hear and the vision to partner in what he's bringing about? A sermon by Joel Loh.
Mark 4:21-25 - Jesus uses two more short parables to further explain just how his message goes out into the world. He does not intend to hide, but to reveal himself to any and all with the ears to hear. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Mark 4:1-20 - Jesus's first parable in Mark (the parable of the sower) is a commentary on the events of Mark's gospel, a parable about parables, and an invitation to anyone with the ears to hear to chew on the deep things of the kingdom of God. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Mark 3:20-35 - In this passage a massive crowd, Jesus's mother and brothers, and religious leaders from Jerusalem all make claims on him. But who is the true family of Jesus? His grace-filled answer is shocking and inspiring. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Mark 3:7-19 - Jesus continues to draw a curious crowd even as the religious leaders have decided to kill him. But Jesus begins his next stage of ministry by calling a ragtag group of twelve insignificant disciples to himself and into the greatest privilege imaginable--to partner with him in his ministry to bring to the good news to the world. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Psalm 146 - We end our time in the Psalms with Psalm 146, the first of the 5-part praise that concludes the book. Here we see how to bring our joy to God in light of His power and goodness. We are also reminded that the pains of the Christian life, like the Psalter, will end in unbroken joy and praise for the rest of the life to come. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Psalm 116 - Gratitude and thankfulness are indispensable markers of the Spirit-filled life. They're also the response that ought to flow from experiencing the grace of God. This psalm models how to bring our gratitude to Him and how to remember it for dark stretches to come. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Psalm 51 - Guilt and shame are powerful emotions that every human will experience. Tragically, we often assume the best way to deal with these is to hide from God and others. But David's example in this Psalm reveals that the only answer to our guilt is found in remembering the character of the God we serve, bringing our guilt into his light, and finding the grace and restoration he promises. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
A church community update for the month of July 2021. An update in light of Oregon COVID-19 restrictions coming down.
Psalm 23 - In this Psalm, instead of confessing his fears to his God, David confesses his God to his fears. Here we get a crucial reminder of the power of prayerfully declaring just what kind of shepherd God is even in moments of great fear. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Psalm 131 - This short psalm models a powerful way of dealing with our anxieties in the context of our relationships with God. Only in Him will we find lasting answers to each of our worries. A sermon by Josh Wilder.
Psalm 44 - In this Psalm, the author models how to bring our grief and sadness to God, even in the middle of doubting his goodness toward us. A sermon by Josh Wilder.
Psalm 109 - Psalm 109 is one of the most challenging and disturbing sections of the entire Bible. What does it have to say about how we should deal with our anger? How does it share a binding with the radical call of Jesus to love our enemies? How might we use it to learn how to "be angry and do not sin?" A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Psalms 1-2 - An introduction to the Psalms--the ancient book of prayers and songs that shaped the spiritual life of Ancient Israel, the early Christian church, and Jesus himself. In these ancient poems we'll begin to learn how to bring our whole selves to the God of grace. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Mark 2:23-3:6 - The growing conflict between Jesus and the religious leaders reaches a tipping point as He claims divine authority over Israel's most significant religious practice: the Sabbath day of rest. From this passage, learn about the Lord of the Sabbath who scandalizes both the deeply religious and the deeply irreligious with His grace. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Mark 2:18-22 - Questioned about His commitment to religious mourning, Jesus reveals that the most appropriate response to communion with Him is joyous, festive celebration. It forces us to ask, "What is the tone of my discipleship to Jesus?" A sermon by Cameron Heger.
A conversation with Janet Fraser who works with Portland Rescue Mission, one of Door of Hope's long-standing ministry partners. Learn more about the invaluable work they're doing to serve folks in our city impacted by homelessness and addiction and how to potentially get involved.
Mark 2:13-17 - Jesus came close and extend love to many who were legitimately offensive to love. What business did a religious teacher have with those kinds of people? And what does it mean for you? A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Mark 2:1-12 - Which is easier: to instantly heal or to forgive sins? And who on earth has the power and the right to do both? A sermon by Josh Wilder.
Mark 1:40-45 - A man with a dangerous and ostracizing skin disease risks it all to be healed by Jesus. In a surprising twist, Jesus trades places with this man. This trade is as profound a picture of the gospel as any. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Mark 1:35-39 - Under pressure from the crowd and its demands, what does Jesus do? And how might we follow him in his response? And why is it good news for a Portlander in 2021? A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Mark 1:29-34 - Jesus demonstrates both his divine authority over the material world (including physical sickness) and his care and concern for the physical body. In miracles like these, we see a preview of the life to come in the New Creation. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
A conversation with Ashely and Luke who work with First Image, one of Door of Hope's long-standing ministry partners. Learn more about the incredible work they're doing to serve vulnerable moms, children, and dads and how to potentially get involved.
John 20 & 21 - Jesus appeared to many after his resurrection, but here we explore his encounters with three individuals. In these we see his grace-filled responses to grief & hopelessness, skepticism & doubt, and failure & humiliation. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
John 12:12-19 - Palm Sunday was both a fulfillment and a surprise, just as the cross a few days later would be. May we not know King Jesus just enough to be dangerous. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Mark 1:21-28 - What happens when Jesus walks into God's special place on God's special day and encounters an evil spirit? Just a little light Saturday morning sermonizing and exorcising. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Mark 1:16-20 - Mark recounts Jesus's calling of his very first disciples. His call was extreme--why did they respond the way they did? And how will we respond? A sermon by Josh Wilder.
A church family update for the month of March 2021. An update related to our return to weekly in person gatherings at 10am at the Fremont building effective April 4, Easter Sunday.
Mark 1:14-15 - Jesus began his ministry with the announcement of God's good news. How must we respond? And why? A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Mark 1:12-13 - Immediately following his baptism, Jesus faced an harrowing period of temptation and suffering in the wilderness. But God had not forgotten Him... and He has not forgotten his people. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
A church family update for the month of February 2021. Quick announcements related to First Sunday worship gatherings, Know Me Now service opportunities, and Kids' Ministry.
Mark 1:9-11 - Mark introduces Jesus as the man from nowhere who submits himself to John's baptism just before he's revealed by God as the beloved Son of the Father, the Spirit-anointed servant, and the long-promised King. In this Jesus we see both deep humility and incomprehensible splendor. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Mark 1:2-8 - The ministry of John the Baptist reminds us that God and his plan is always prior--he's always at work ahead of us. Listen in as we consider the work of God through this John who prepared the way for Christ the King. A sermon by Josh Wilder.
Mark 1:1 - There is no question as important as "Who is Jesus?" Here, we argue that there is no better place to go to answer this question than the four canonical gospels. We also introduce the Gospel According to Mark as we prepare to spend months together seeking the authentic Jesus in its pages. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Matthew 28:16-20; Acts 1:6-8. Scripture reading by Mackenzie Wilder, sermon by Cameron Heger.
A conversation with Sarah and Mel, members of the larger Door of Hope family, about their new organization, We Belong PDX. Learn more about the incredible work they're doing to serve kids in East Portland and how to get involved.
Micah 1:1-2:13. The first of our 7-week series exploring the book of the prophet MIcah. Scripture reading by Annie Robertson, sermon by Cameron Heger.
A conversation between DoH Northeast worship leader Vivian Parker and elder Josh Wilder about race, her experience growing up in Portland, and where our true hope lies.
Genesis 1:26-28; Revelation 7:9-10. An overview of the story of race and ethnicity in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. The first of our four-week study on race in the scriptures. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
Acts 2:42-47. A stand-alone message looking at what we can learn from the first church birthed after Pentecost. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
A conversation between DoH Northeast elders Joel Loh and Josh Wilder about race and its intersection with the ideas of home and hospitality in churches.
A conversation between pastors Ashely Bell (Cedar Mill Bible Church) and Josh White (Door of Hope Southeast) on Christian faithfulness in light of racial injustice.
1 John 1:1-4. A repost of the beginning of our fourteen-week study of the book of 1 John. A sermon by Cameron Heger.
A pastoral update in response to recent examples of racial injustice and our plan for moving toward community in small groups.
An introduction to our communal (while isolated) walk through the Gospel of John plus a reflection on John 1:14. Cameron Heger.