Covenant Methodist Woodlands | Weekly Inspiration for Christian Living: Recent Episodes
Jason Burnham
Concluding the “Ekklésia” series on who the church is and what the church does, the Scriptures offer a unique title to all Christians, everywhere: Priests. 1 Peter 2 calls the church a “Royal [and] holy priesthood,” but what does this mean? To be a priest means to be an intermediary between broken, hurting, sinful people, and God. So, as you move through your life, do so as one with a divine assignment—to find broken, hurting, sinful people, and offer them the tangible love of God. This is your priestly duty.
When the foundation is right, everything else falls into place. Like solving a puzzle, you start with what you know is correct and build from there. In the Church, when Jesus is the cornerstone, and when he is in his rightful place, everything aligns. In Ephesians we find a repeated pattern: you, we, God, we now together. Jesus destroyed the dividing wall of hostility between Jews and Gentiles. We—now together—are God's household and we, together, are God's house. In ancient times, the patriarch provided protection, provision, and community for his entire household. When Christ is the head of the Church, we experience these same blessings. Household" speaks to belonging, while "house" speaks to function—where God resides, the covenant is practiced, and forgiveness is found. What once took place in a physical temple now happens in the Church. When Jesus is in the correct place, the works of Jesus begin to take place—broken souls are welcomed and restored. So with Jesus as the cornerstone, let us pray that here, in this community and this time, with the presence of the Holy Spirit, the works of Jesus can be accomplished.
We, the Church, are the Bride of Christ. In Revelation 18, we just heard about the fall of evil, and now in Revelation 19:6, we hear the sound of a multitude, like rushing waters or thunder. These are powerful sounds heard long before the source is visible. A sense of anticipation is building. What follows is the wedding banquet—the marriage of the Lamb of God, who takes away the world's sin. Jesus, through His sacrifice, paid the price for sin, and we, the Church, are His bride.So, how do we prepare ourselves for this wedding? We might think we need to purify ourselves, but that’s not what this passage says. The wedding clothes, the fine linen, bright and clean, are given to us. This purification is not something we earn; it’s a gift, made possible by the Holy Spirit at work within us. And, clothed in this righteousness, we will stand with Jesus in the final battle.
What is your most prized possession—the thing you value and care for the most? As a group, we are God’s treasured possession—the people of God. This means we are responsible for caring for God's most treasured possession, ourselves, not just individually, but together as one body, one family, one Church. This means not bringing harm to a part of our own body. In modern culture, this tendency plays out in divisive politics. No matter the political opinions, our political views should never create division or harm within the Church. Instead, we should focus on doing God's will, allowing his Spirit to work through us. When the Church lives in unity, reflecting the fruit of the Spirit, the world will see God’s presence and authority in us. By living as God’s treasured possession, we bring glory to him in everything we do.
Faith in Jesus is the only prerequisite to being grafted into God's family. Just as different plants can be grafted together to produce fruit, so our God's people. Furthermore, fruit that is grafted must be of the same family. Paul boldly declares that Jews and Gentiles, are one family in Christ through our shared ancestry from Adam and Eve and the Abrahamic covenant. In the Church, barriers are broken down and we are grafted together capable, with God's sustenance, to produce fruit. And there's hope even for those who have strayed—they can be grafted back in. Our life's work is to stay nourished by the Spirit, connected to the Vine, and to live in a way that inspires others to experience Jesus' love, so they too may be grafted into God’s family until the whole world knows His love.
What does it mean to be a saint? We often think of saints as a special group, but that’s a narrow view. In the Bible, all believers—everyone who calls on the name of Jesus—are considered saints. We’re not meant to divide ourselves by status or circumstance in the Church. Paul explains instead that through Christ, we’ve all received the title of "saints"—and we are one in this endeavor.As saints, we’ve been enriched in speech and knowledge, giving us a deeper understanding of God’s ways and the ability to express that understanding. We’ve been blessed with spiritual gifts for sharing, often best in small groups or one-on-one conversations. We've been made firm with a strength that doesn’t come from our own perfection but from God’s grace being perfected in us. He continues to reveal His heart for the world through us.So, how do we live up to the title of saint? Commit yourself fully. Strive to grow, consistently work, assess, and refresh your efforts. You’ve been given the name Saint. Embrace it wholeheartedly, knowing that the one who gave you this name will continue to bless and strengthen you.
Shepherd/sheep imagery can be found throughout the Old Testament, but Jesus gives it a deeper meaning for a new people. So, what does it mean to be part of his flock? It means being loved unconditionally, no matter what the world or your inner critic might say. The shepherd’s love is so profound that he’s willing to lay down his life for his sheep. Being part of the flock means being in a relationship with Jesus—the sheep know the shepherd, and the shepherd knows the sheep. God’s greatest joy is seeing you seeing him. We follow the shepherd because his voice guides us to a truly good life. While the world offers its version of success—money, fame, power—Jesus offers love, belonging, peace beyond understanding, and joy even in difficult times.
The Church is often described as the body of Christ. Just like the parts of a body, we are united, working together and supporting one another. Yet, each of us is unique, with different gifts and abilities. This uniqueness can sometimes lead us to question our place or compare ourselves to others. We're tempted to wonder if we truly belong. But that's not how it should be. Paul reminds us that in Christ, our differences fade away, and we are one. The body can't function properly if any part isn't fulfilling its role. Each of us has a purpose, and when we fall short, God doesn't receive the full honor, glory, and praise He deserves. You have a special purpose. How will you use your gifts in this world to glorify God?
Death by hypothermia is insidious. In the latter stages, your body starts to cooperate with the hypothermia, eventually leading to death. Sin is similar. It numbs your senses and poisons your soul. Through guilt and shame, sin convinces you that you are not worthy of love and acceptance. Shame pushes you away from community with God and others—the very things that can heal and restore you. Shame dies in the context of loving community. The treatment for sin is stripped-down vulnerability through confession—with yourself, with God, and with trusted community. Don't let sin convince you to participate in your own isolation and demise. Walk into the light. Expose your sin. Find healing, forgiveness, love, and acceptance through the spiritual practice of confession.
As faithful Christians, we're instructed to love others, offer hospitality to strangers, and remember those in prison as part of our spiritual practices. Yet, remembering those in prison isn't something most of us are used to doing. We might feel more comfortable focusing on those imprisoned unjustly or who are repentant, but the Bible doesn't make these distinctions. Scripture calls us to full solidarity with those in prison, inviting us to pray with a desire for relationship. We share a common human need for healing and restoration through Jesus. If you feel called, there are missions where you can visit and minister to prisoners. But at the very least, we should remember them in our daily prayers, asking for their restoration and relationship with Jesus.
The power of music is incredibly real, especially as it helps us memorize and connect with people and experiences. When we worship together through song, we deeply connect with the message of Jesus. This message resonates, takes hold, and dwells within us through the experience of worship. We sing Psalms—songs about God, hymns—songs to God, and songs of the Spirit—those that arise within us when the Holy Spirit meets us. These songs teach us about our faith and encourage us to remain obedient. When these worship songs are on our lips, they become ingrained in our hearts, powerfully sustaining us even in the darkest times.
A roadmap only works if you follow it. As Wesleyans, we believe the Bible is authoritative—whenever there's a question, the Bible has the final say. The Words of God are revealed to us through the Bible, which serves as our roadmap for life. However, many of us don't read it regularly. We have access to the Bible and the Holy Spirit, but understanding it can be challenging due to the need for context and knowledge of ancient languages. Despite this, ignoring the roadmap can lead to trouble. We're constantly bombarded with opportunities to believe false narratives—other roadmaps. The danger is that if you don't know what the Bible says, you'll fall for whatever the world offers you. We must be intentional about knowing our roadmap so that we know how to live our lives.
Would you consider yourself an introvert, an extrovert, or somewhere in between? Each of us is created differently and where we fall on the spectrum of our ideal Friday night (anywhere from home alone with a book to a stadium with 50,000 of your closest friends) is no exception. But regardless of how you self-identify, one thing is 100% true: Your soul needs regular rhythms of silence & solitude. We see this in the life of Jesus—rhythms of community and retreat. Reading Luke's Gospel it almost seems like Jesus was always either coming from solitude to a crowd or heading to solitude from a crowd. But how can we make space in our hurried and over-busy lives amid a hurried and over-busy world? The answer may mean everything for the state of your spiritual life. Check out this week's sermon for inspiration and practical encouragement to "take aim" at Jesus through solitude and silence as a means of grace.
Are you exhausted? The Sabbath is a gift from God, meant for you to embrace and appreciate. It provides a cyclical rhythm: we rest to work and work to rest. Our exhaustion often stems from neglecting this rhythm God intended for us. The Ten Commandments instruct us to keep the Sabbath "set apart," maintaining what God has already established. The Sabbath exists because God proclaimed it so, not because we set it ourselves. When we break the Sabbath, it often reveals idols taking God's rightful place—be it our jobs, work ethic, or the drive for our children's success. Such pride and arrogance suggest that nothing can function without us, and we exhaust ourselves by serving these false masters. Ignoring the Sabbath usually means we're prioritizing our desires over God's. We lose rhythm resulting in joy-stealing bony-weary fatigue. So, let's get back to God's intention for us. Create an action item to organize your Sabbath to keep it distinct from the work of other days. Take aim: let's strive to keep the Sabbath holy and recapture the joy God intends for us.
In John 6, Jesus reveals Himself as the Bread of Life, challenging His followers to seek eternal sustenance rather than temporary earthly fulfillment. This teaching, though difficult, underscores the very real presence of Christ in the practice of Holy Communion—a presence that is powerful, dependable, and sustaining. Communion is a chief means of grace, during which Jesus never fails to show up. Our duty and joy as Christians is to receive the Lord's Supper as frequently as possible, experiencing this special and beautiful connection with Christ.
Graduating seniors face the question of purpose in a new and urgent way. What is our purpose? What do we want to be when we grow up? The scriptures teach us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made, meant to multiply and care for the earth. God, who is all-powerful, created us with free will but also called us to obey Him. We should obey not just out of fear of punishment, but to honor all He has done for us. Whatever our plans, we need to surrender them to God's will, align our hearts with His, and follow the path He has set for us.
When sin is our master, it controls us completely. But through Jesus' death and resurrection, we are set free from sin. Even so, sin still tries to tempt us. Paul gives us a powerful way to resist: play dead. Fighting sin on our own is impossible, but we don't have to. Instead, we can stop helping sin and become deadweight against its power. Let the Holy Spirit guide your actions. Consider yourself dead to sin and alive in Christ. Believe this truth and walk in faith with Jesus as your Savior.
The scripture in 1 John 2:24-27 gives us both a test and a fact. What is the test for being a Christian? Ask yourself this question, "Do I prioritize Christ in every aspect of my life?" Unlike finances where we're taught to diversify, identifying as Christian means we put all of our eggs in one basket. We must trust God in all things and be willing to open all areas of our lives to Christ. And when you start abiding in him and living in his presence you will be brought back to the fact that you are anointed by Jesus Christ and have been given the authority to do special work. Living every aspect of your life in Christ's presence invites the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. And, the Holy Spirit will teach you everything you need to know to act out your purpose. You have been set apart to do good works in Jesus' name. Abide in him and use the power of the Holy Spirit to transform the world.
As Jesus sits amidst his disciples, a woman approaches, pouring out costly perfume upon his head. In the intersecting elements of this story in the different Gospel narratives lies a beautiful example of living a consecrated life. Through this simple yet profound act, she unknowingly consecrates Jesus for his impending death and burial. Yet, in her act of devotion, lies a deeper truth: she embodies a life consecrated to God by her availability to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Despite the absence of explicit motives or understanding, she becomes a vessel for divine purpose. This narrative challenges us to live lives similarly consecrated, making ourselves available to partner with the Holy Spirit, even in our simplest acts of devotion.
Our cultural norms say it's natural to fulfill our basic needs, but this conflicts with Jesus' teachings. Fasting is an important part of our faith, like prayer. Jesus said that as a community of believers should fast. But why do we deny ourselves? We fast to grow closer to God, recognizing that God's efforts, not our own, sustains us. Regular fasting helps deepen our connection with God. The Bible also shows examples of fasting in special situations to seek God's guidance. In a world filled with violence and suffering, let's intentionally fast and pray for peace as God's people. Let's dedicate this time to Him, asking for His intervention during this critical period in history.
To be really good at something you have to be a little crazy. You must dedicate your life to your craft, with all your yeses and nos brought into alignment and subservient to your ultimate goal. This is what it means to live a consecrated life. Your life has been set apart for a certain purpose. As Christians, we have been called to live a consecrated life. God's will should inform all of our yeses and no's. And although your success or failure at living this way doesn't impact God's love for you, it does affect the fullness and joy you experience. So how do we go about living this consecrated life? We'll be exploring this throughout this series. However, the foundation of living a consecrated life is prayer. Seek God's help to live in this way and walk in a life of obedience.
Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem would have seemed anything but for the Jewish people. While they are expecting a warrior king to save them from the Romans, Jesus enters on a donkey surrounded by misfits and nobodies. But Jesus' procession points back to the contradictory images found in Zechariah 9:9—the victorious yet humble king. As the crowds cry out for physical salvation from the oppression of Rome, Jesus offers a deeper liberation not from a single principality but from that which plagues all the world, our human sin, and brokenness. And as he enters Jerusalem on the back of a lowly donkey, he offers himself as the sacrifice to free us from our guilt and shame. His triumphal entry is unlike any the world has known—but his victory is exactly what the world needs.
Caught on the water during a storm the disciples, seasoned sailors, find themselves buffeted by the wind and waves, stuck in no-mans-land unable to get to the shore. Through this storm, Jesus walks out on the water to meet them, responding to their hopelessness with words of comfort. Our worst trials cannot separate us from Jesus. And Peter responds with great faith, "Tell me to come to you on the water. " He believes that if Jesus speaks it then it will be. As Jesus beckons him forward, Peter walks away from the boat keeping his eyes on Jesus. But when he has reached a distance from the boat he is distracted by his fear, by the sheer force of the winds and waves surrounding him. His hopelessness returns and he begins to sink. But Jesus reaches out for Peter and pulls him to safety. Once secured, Jesus invites him to persist and walks arm in arm with Peter back to the boat. Jesus walks with us as we face trial, doubt, and lose our faith. He reaches for us in our hopelessness and walks hand-in-hand with us as our faith is restored.
In your lifetime you will be called into something new, something out of your comfort zone, and in that experience, you will be exposed to feelings of fear. You may not know the future but you will know who is calling you to it. If you can step into the unseen with faithful obedience you will have God's vision of success and prosperity.
This sermon touches on the sensitive topic of suicide. We all bear spiritual wounds that need exposing for healing, akin to removing a bullet causing pain. As we walk towards transformation, we encounter moments of exposure. But choosing the right person when our wounds are exposed is crucial. Judas sought the wrong source for mercy. But what if he had gone to Jesus instead? If he had turned to Jesus, he'd find the same mercy Jesus offers all sinners. Both Judas and Peter assumed the role of judge. And their judgments caused them to react violently—Peter outwardly and Judas inwardly. These two extremes result from the same issue, our human tendency to take on judgment when wounded. However, only Jesus, the Sacrifice, is the judge. He has already ruled, and his verdict is that he is worthy of death so that you may be worthy of life. We must take our spirit wounds to Jesus to receive mercy. It's in his hands that we will be healed.
Even when we feel desperate, worthless, and directionless, God sees us. Like Gideon, we might not fully grasp the message that "God is with you." In God's realm, social status and our talents or lack thereof hold no significance. Why? Because our purpose isn't centered around ourselves; it's about what God desires to accomplish in and through us. At times, we become so consumed with our own limitations that we doubt God's ability to use us. However, rest assured, God has a distinct purpose for each of us, and he walks with us as we pursue it.
Looking into someone's eyes can stir up a lot within us. Similarly, when God calls us into a relationship and we truly gaze upon Him, something profound happens within. Brace yourself, though. Locking eyes with the Lord can be uncomfortable. Your flaws, unresolved wounds, and hidden struggles may come to the surface. Yet, this discomfort is part of the journey towards transformation. Trust in God; He's the one handling the transformation process. Your role? Gaze at the Lord maintaining eye contact for as long as you can. Look at God, looking at you in love.
When Christ gave up his spirit, the temple veil tore, signaling a profound shift. As the Great High Priest, Christ intercedes for all. Sanctification is no longer by animal blood but by Jesus' unblemished self-sacrifice, fulfilling the world's need for atonement. His death ransoms us from sin, rendering the veil—the mediating force between God's power and our vulnerability— unnecessary. Now, all are welcome into the Holy of Holies. The mighty and powerful God invites you into a deep and personal relationship with Him. Are you ready to experience that freedom today?
Do you recall the rules of the church from your childhood? In Biblical times, there were detailed regulations concerning the construction of synagogues and who could occupy specific areas. At the core of these structures was the "Holy of Holies," a space accessed only once a year on Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement) by the high priest, acting as an intermediary for the people. This access was conditional and required specific sacrifices. Why? Because this sacred space housed not only the Ark of the Covenant—containing the laws given by God through Moses but also the very presence of God.The Holy of Holies was separated by a meticulously crafted veil. Although God draws near to his people, the veil symbolizes the need for protection from the overwhelming magnitude of his presence and glory. In the presence of a great and holy God, we, as sinners, require this safeguard. Despite our shortcomings, God desires a relationship with us and comes as close as possible, setting the veil to ensure our safety.
When Moses returns from talking with God, he unknowingly radiates light from his face—literal brightness shining from his body. What does your face reveal after prayer? Can people tell? Does it bring a smile? Moses asked God, Show me your glory," and God responded, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you..." God views his goodness as his most glorious aspect. While the world tells us it's about us—self-actualization and becoming our best self—when we seek God for selfish reasons, we miss the point. Elevating the self when seeking God's glory is just another form of idolatry. It's when we seek his goodness for its own sake that we come to reflect the glory of God. So, let's refocus and help each other do the same. God's goodness is his glory—and it's easy to miss if we focus on ourselves. God reveals his glory to us. Where can you see God's goodness in your life if you open your eyes and realize it's right here for you?
God can handle our bold requests, but, like Moses in today's scripture, we might not fully grasp what we're asking. Moses seeks to witness God's glory, yet God knows it's more than Moses can bear. As we discussed last week, staring directly at God's full glory poses a real risk. Despite this, God wants to honor Moses' request. God passes by Moses, shielding him from seeing His face, but allowing a glimpse from behind. This moment foreshadows God becoming our shield. Initially, it's His hand; later, it's through Jesus, eliminating the need for a protective hand. Now, we can confidently ask God to reveal His glory, and He will. Once you've experienced God's glory, you'll radiate His presence into the world.
When the unholy encounters the holy it is consumed. We, as flawed are unable to stand in that presence without mitigating the risk. We cannot approach God on our terms; we need God to bridge the gap. In the past, rituals served as a mediating force for the Israelites. But we are being made holy as he is holy through the work of Christ. The tearing of the veil allows us to see and experience God's glory—something that previously;y would mean certain death. Through Jesus, God made a way for us to reflect His glory to the world. In response, we should be humble and deferential, honoring God for his transformative work in our lives.
We set New Year's resolutions hoping to adjust our daily routines and habits, yet often, we falter within weeks. Overcoming deeply rooted habits is challenging. However, today's scripture reminds us that change isn't just a possibility—it's achievable. When we know what is possible in Jesus Christ, we no longer have to settle for what has been. Through the Spirit, you and I are "unveiled" and set free to be transformed into the mirror image of the glory of God.
The concept of a life debt, often seen in today's stories, involves one character saving another, leading the saved character to dedicate their life in gratitude to their savior. This theme finds its roots in the Bible. Due to our sins, humans were separated from God and faced dire consequences. However, Jesus, out of immense love, stepped into our world to bear the punishment we deserved, offering a path to restore our relationship with God and save us from certain death. This act should create a sense of indebtedness to Jesus, yet we don't often pause to allow ourselves to feel this true depth of gratitude. How would your life change if you dedicated everything to honor this debt to Jesus? To gladly submit everything you have and are to honor the One who paid your life debt? We think that we'll feel burdened, however, when you submit your life to the kingship of Jesus you'll experience an unparalleled love—the deepest, most forgiving, and most compassionate friendship you've ever known.
Christmas Eve message. You are the reason for the season. God made a way to be clearly and wholly present with you so that you would have life and light and it would shine so beautifully in you that you would have spiritual life in abundance. The King is here... and His "why" is you.
Jesus has come to dwell among us, to be in relationship with us. Truth and grace, Jesus is both. Grace: the law of Moses was grace, outside of which we had no way to interact with God. Yet, when we try to obey this law, we discover we are insufficient and incapable of being holy. In Jesus, the requirements of the law are truly and completely fulfilled. Truth. We miss out on the reality of what Christmas is. We get focused on Jesus being a baby, innocent and precious. We think he matured or transformed into the Savior. But maybe we're called to pause and realize that Jesus wasn't only God born to be with us as a baby, but from the start, Jesus was the savior of the world. We are confronted with our sin, brokenness, and emptiness, and there is Jesus, our savior, born and dwelling with us. If we are honest in our confession about our insufficiency and the aching need we have for a Savior, we will be profoundly overwhelmed with the truth and grace of Christmas.
Everything we do during Christmas carries special meaning. Using lights during Christmas reminds us that the Light of the World entered our lives—the True Light that brings brightness to everyone. Imagine describing light to someone who can't see: vibrant colors, sparkling details, like a radiant sunset. Light brings comfort by clarifying what's real and dispelling uncertainties in our minds. It's like the warmth we feel from a fire or a sunrise. Some people face absolute darkness, feeling hopeless and broken, thinking there might never be light again. In our world, many fake lights claim to bring help or wholeness, but only the true light can provide warmth and clarity to dispel darkness forever. No matter how dark things seem for you, the true light, available always and everywhere, brings radiance, warmth, clarity, comfort, and peace to all of creation. Darkness has no power over you. The Light of the World is coming for you.
How early do you start buying Christmas gifts? Some of us wait until the last minute, while others plan ahead. God, too, planned ahead for Christmas. through his prophets, he sent out invitations to his grand Christmas party, culminating with John the Baptist as a key messenger to pave the way for the Lord. With his message of repentance, John the Baptist clearly understood that without Jesus' forgiveness of our sins, we were all as good as dead. Does his message still matter today? If you're going through a tough time, turn to Jesus. If you are hurting, turn to Jesus. Can you hear John the Baptist's witness? and if so, will you add your voice? Can you feel the urgency as John the Baptist did when you look at our community and understand that without Jesus' forgiveness, the people around us are as good as dead? Add your witness and prepare those around you for the coming of the King.
Have you ever had a really bad day where everything seems to go wrong? Imagine Peter feeling the same way in this Bible passage. Fishing is his whole world—it's what he's committed his life to, how he supports his family, and a big part of his identity. Even though he's a pro at fishing and knows the waters well, after a whole night of fishing, he comes up empty-handed.Then, Jesus steps in with a three-part request for Peter to follow. First, when Peter just wants to call it a day and head home after a tough night, Jesus asks him to take him in the boat so he can talk to a crowd. Despite being tired, Peter agrees. After the teaching is done, just when Peter thinks he can finally rest, Jesus asks him to go back into the deep and cast his nets again. Even though this is probably the last thing Peter wants to do, he responds with a reluctant "because you say so." It's in this moment of obedience that Jesus takes care of Peter's needs—both his mental well-being and his sustenance.Yet, Peter rejects him, pushes him away, and even asks him to leave because Peter feels unworthy. We often think we need to get ourselves all cleaned up before encountering Jesus, but the truth is that Jesus is already with us, inviting us not to fear our brokenness but to understand that we are completely surrounded and made clean by his holiness.Jesus' invitation isn't about how prepared we are; it's about how prepared he is. He is right there with you, reminding you of his closeness and inviting you to respond in obedient submission today.
Sharing doesn't always come easily to us. If you've ever spent time with a toddler, you know how we tend to say, "mine!" It's natural for us to be a bit selfish, but this goes against the teachings of God. In today's scripture, we see early Christians, after a period of revival, combining their money to help those in need. In our modern world, selling assets and giving all the profits to the poor might seem extreme. However, when the Spirit of the Lord inspires, extraordinary generosity occurs.Imagine if God asked you to sell your house and use the money to help the needy. That level of generosity can be challenging for most of us. We might come up with excuses or try to justify our choices. So, if being selfish is our default, how can we become more generous? The answer lies in practice and experiencing the generosity of others.To grow in generosity, intentionally give to others at a level that slightly pushes your comfort zone. As you continue to practice, your ability to be generous will strengthen. Remember, we have a generous God. When we reflect on the kindness we've received from Jesus, it motivates us to be more generous towards others.
Have you ever reacquainted yourself with someone you knew earlier in life and found yourself perplexed by the changes in them? You only had knowledge of their past, lacking the context of how they evolved into the person they are today. In today's narrative, the disciples encounter a newly transformed Saul. Saul had been a fervent and zealous persecutor of those who followed Jesus. Among his many transgressions, Saul even had a hand in the stoning of Stephen. Yet, here he stands, proclaiming to have encountered the risen Christ, claiming a profound transformation. The disciples, understandably, approach this revelation with skepticism and fear.Too often, the Church responds to those who have lost their way in a similar manner. We react with trepidation and mistrust, keeping our distance. However, Jesus' message is crystal clear in His pursuit of the prodigal. He met Saul right where he was, in the midst of his destructive tendencies. What if we were to extend our pursuit to those who appear the most resistant? To those who seem irretrievably lost? Let us extend an extravagant invitation to become a part of the community of discipleship, for the church of Jesus is a place where all are invited to belong, come as they are, and experience transformation.
In Jesus' time, sickness like leprosy meant being labeled "unclean." Those who fell ill were cast out, isolated, and cut off from religious life. The leper who approached Jesus had been suffering from leprosy for a long time, as he was "covered in leprosy." Still, he came to Jesus with unwavering faith, believing that Jesus could heal him, but the question remained: would he?In this moment, Jesus demonstrated something profound. He touched the man, even though he could heal with just a word. This man had been isolated for so long, and the intimate encounter with Jesus conveyed a powerful message - that he had a place with Him.How often do we hesitate when God invites us to connect, whether due to sickness, differences, or cultural barriers? From the very beginning, Jesus showed us what it means to be His disciples: "Go, be with, touch, restore." Let's seize the opportunities before us and not miss the chance to reach out in love. First, love.
Society often neglects those on the fringes who make us uncomfortable, the tormented souls grappling with severe physical, mental, and spiritual anguish. They can be frightening, perceived as dangerous, or unpredictable. However, in today's scripture, Jesus provides a profound example of "love, first".Jesus doesn't shy away from the man possessed by many demons, even though he had been cast out of the village and left isolated in his suffering. Instead, Jesus allows himself to be approached and initiates a meaningful connection by asking the man his name. This simple act of recognizing his humanity paves the way for a deeper relationship. Jesus then heals the man, tending to his physical, mental, and spiritual needs.We are called to follow this example. There's no greater comfort than that offered by someone who has faced similar demons. Consider what unique solace you can provide to someone enduring the same pain you've experienced. We should venture into the world as "wounded healers," for whatever torment afflicts you or others, it's no match for the power and love of Jesus.
Jesus teaches us that to enter the Kingdom of God, we must approach it like children. What does that mean? Children will invite anyone into their play. They see no divisions based on age, race, wealth, or any other divisions we've created. They respond with acceptance to everyone, radiating infectious joy. To enter God's kingdom, we must become open and joyful, like children, light in the darkness. We should also live in a state of dependency on God, fully acknowledging our brokenness and need for His provision. While the disciples dismissed the children as unimportant, Jesus showed us to welcome, embrace, and bless them, recognizing the value they bring to our community. The Kingdom is open to all generations. By adopting their joy, belonging, and dependence, we can be transformed into what Jesus envisions us to be.
Jesus tells us that when you do something for the "least of these" you do it for him, and that the inverse is also true. There's a danger of allowing this scripture to become a carrot or stick—Do good, go to heaven, fail to do good suffer eternal consequences. But, if our focus is there, we miss a critical invitation. The first opportunity that we have in any relationship is love. Consider what difference love has made in your life. How did it change you when someone cared for you, carried you, sustained you? This is our grand opportunity. Jesus is inviting you to respond in love to his family—all those around us. If we are to emulate Jesus' model then every interaction begins with love. It's the order of operations: First, LOVE.
There are some things in life that are too good to keep to yourself. Jesus is one of those things. Would you put your lamp under a bed? That's ridiculous—a light is put on a stand to serve its purpose of lighting the space. If you've ever been in a cave and experienced total darkness you know how profound darkness can be. Without light, you could not survive. You would literally die. In the analogy of the lamp, Jesus is the light. He is looking for lampstands—those who would carry the light of Christ into the darkness of the world. The task is daunting, to be effective you must develop strong personal faith. How do you do that? Belief is contagious. Like the disciples, your personal faith grows when you're in community with other believers. At Covenant, we do this in small groups.
When we live in a community of discipleship, our joy in doing God's work is not our joy alone. We share these transformational stories of what God is doing in our lives with each other and celebrate together. Our joy is exponential as it is shared and re-experienced. This pattern of interacting is reinforced as we share in the celebration, we discover even more opportunities to do God's work in the world.
Persevering in the face of failure can be hard. Following Jesus, attempting to emulate his life on earth, is the most important life skill we can master, yet we constantly feel like failures. It's hard to persevere in a sinful world, but we cannot give up in our pursuit of living like Jesus. If we are going to persevere, we need encouragement. Jesus consistently encourages the disciples in their failures, urging them to keep going. And in his modeling, we find direction for how we are to encourage one another.
How often do we miss the present because we are either multi-tasking with full concentration on nothing or hyper-focused on one task at the expense of all else? But in today's scripture, Jesus gives us a beautiful example of being attentive in the moment—giving his full attention to a relationship now. Regardless of the other demands upon him, Jesus says to us, "I am wholly here for you." This is a way of interacting that we are called to, that we can practice. What spaces in your life do you devote to being wholly attentive to others? Are there places you can enter where you can trust that others will be wholly attentive to you? That is the model for small groups at Covenant. In small groups, you can practice being attentive to relationships in the here and now and receiving that same focus back. Let us model the ability to say, "I am wholly here for you."
When we grow closer to each other we grow closer to God, when we draw closer to God we grow closer together. We need to live in a space where we can ask and answer, "How is it with your soul?" Yet, churches actively ask "How is it with your mind?" Soul conversation is mostly absent. We teach about the Bible and scripture ignoring this deeper mission of soul. Scripture invites us to be authentic to God and to our brothers and sisters. But the next phase is vulnerability—an intimate space—caring, close, connected to others who are with us, and for us. Do you hold yourself back? Whether to protect yourself or to protect those you love so they don't have to deal with all your "stuff"? It's a rare thing in this world to be known out of a space of vulnerability. This, however, is Jesus' model of discipleship. We are growing and for us to grow we have to be honest about where we are. Do you yearn for more? How is it with your soul? If you would like to experience this for yourself, we invite you to participate in a small group at Covenant. To get started click the "Next Steps" button at the bottom of the page and choose "find a small group".
Whoever was at Matthew's table in this passage—"tax collectors and sinners"—were most likely offensive. Capernaum was a major intersection of international trade. These are rich and influential tax collectors and people who most likely profited from selling things that catered to people's darker desires. The Pharisees are appalled that Jesus would deign to dine with this group of people, these "sinners". Yet, in his response to them, Jesus invites us to confront our own relationship with sin. He is there not for those who think they've got it all together, but for those who are confronted with the reality that they are unable to be righteous on their own. We have all sinned and fallen short. The first step in becoming a disciple is admitting you are aware of your own sin—to understand that Jesus came for you. Secondly, we are called to be keenly aware of the needs of others and to encourage one another on the path toward righteousness. All are welcome. Every one of us is a sinner in need of salvation. There is a spot for you at the table. And Jesus says to us, this is why I came.
From the very beginning, we are invited into discipleship to be sent. Disciples making disciples. The Church must be a disciple-making engine, establishing people empowered by the Holy Spirit, who when faced with the evil powers of this world are to be a remedy to restore it. We need to look at the model that Jesus laid out for us with his disciples. The disciples were not merely observers of Jesus but lived and experienced life with him. We need to BE with him and when our desire is to be with Jesus we are in lockstep with the original twelve.
Life itself IS the curriculum. We cannot proclaim that we are going to follow Jesus and isolate ourselves—we need to be in community. Jesus made the disciples one of twelve so that they could experience being with one another as they were with him. The model for Christians is clear in the biblical witness if you are following Jesus and experiencing life with others following Jesus the life you are living is growing your faith. To try to do it on your own is actually deterring your spiritual growth. Take the next step in discipleship. Make sure you are with others striving to be with Jesus as well.
Passion for God is something you can't create--it comes from somewhere deep below the surface that our conscious mind can't interact with directly. However, through persistent rhythms of making our "home" in Jesus, our hearts can be stirred up to greater love for God.
Four times in three verses Jesus says, "Remain in me" We know when something is repeated in scripture it means it's important. Jesus is telling his disciples that even when he is no longer physically present they still have a choice. Remain in me. We must be so firmly grounded in our pursuit of Jesus that we want nothing more than to be with him, to be in his presence. Jesus tells us that: 1. No branch can bear fruit by itself, and 2. Apart from him you can do nothing. In our Western culture, we have an idolatry of independence. We believe that being dependent on something is bad, but Jesus is telling us that independence leads to a fruitless life. To be fully dependent on Jesus is difficult for us. We will be pruned--there's going to be transformation. but the first step is admitting we cannot do this alone--and inviting the Spirit to walk alongside us. Through the Spirit, we have the power to surrender those things we hold as obstacles so that we may choose to remain in Jesus.
Do you realize where your traditions came from or why they continue? Traditions for traditions' sake lose both their power and authority. Yet, here in today's text, we find the Pharisees questioning Jesus. Why are his disciples not loyal to the tradition? The traditions, in the Pharisees' view, are a marker of one's holiness. While they are being accused of being unfaithful, Jesus (as Jesus does) turns the Pharisees' arguments upside down exposing them as hypocrites. The traditions they reference have no basis in God's word. They are human-devised traditions around which they've created extensive practices—rituals that have become so elevated and complicated they've become a barrier to people knowing God. When we focus exclusively on the rituals we ignore the heart of the law; we miss God. The rituals do not make us holy. But, if we seek God, and pursue him wholeheartedly, holiness will naturally follow and the witness of Christ will flow from us to the world. This is what being a disciple means.
As individuals, we often separate different aspects of our lives into distinct compartments. However, when it comes to our faith, we cannot afford to do the same. By doing so, we hinder ourselves from experiencing the complete devotion and worship of God. It is crucial for us to lead an interconnected life, where the presence of God's Spirit permeates every facet. Our commitment lies in faithfully pursuing our ultimate authority. Recognizing that our bodies are considered sacred temples, we must consider who holds the position of power. Will it be the fleeting desires of our physical selves, or will it be the eternal Spirit of the Living God?
Sampson was dedicated to God from before his birth. His super-human strength came as a blessing from God, yet we see in this story Sampson's pride in his abilities—and his deep belief that he's strong enough on his own and doesn't need God. Sampson's journey resonates with us, particularly those who have achieved success, as we often attribute our accomplishments solely to our own intelligence, hard work, and self-made efforts. Similar to Sampson, there exists a deep-seated part within us that falsely convinces us we can navigate life without God, even though we outwardly acknowledge Him as the source of all things. The insidious sin of pride blinds us to our desperate need for a Savior and deprives us of the profound joy that awaits us in God's kingdom.
Is the immense reward of an everlasting relationship with Jesus worth the sacrifices of following him? Being a member of God's Kingdom entails living in a manner that goes against the prevailing culture. Jesus frequently surprises us by challenging our expectations and societal norms. Additionally, Jesus emphasizes that following him requires prioritizing him above everything else in our lives. However, Jesus does not demand great sacrifices without promising great rewards. As we weigh the significant cost of following Jesus, may we come to the realization that we simply cannot afford to live without him.
There are many things we love in our lives, but God is to be first among them. Your life is filled with choices and every choice is an exchange for one future for another. We will worship something as we were created to worship. The question is what are you exchanging for God? Success, glory, achievement, fame, sex, substances? This is the grand temptation, to exchange the truth of God for a lie. But none of this satisfies. No substitute will bring you the abundant life you have with God.
What is "the good life"? Well, God has one version and the world has another. The two lives beckon you to walk into them, and eventually, one or the other will have your heart. But sometimes this beckoning doesn't feel like an invitation, it feels like a war—and the currency isn't pain, it's pleasure. But though pleasurable for a moment, to love the world ends in death. On the other hand, to experience God's love is the best thing that could ever happen to you.
Sometimes there are things we would never know unless someone were to tell us. Other times, there are things we assume we know but unless we hear the full story we continue to operate in half-truth. Today's scripture makes it clear that there is salvation for you and for me. We access this by believing in our hearts who Jesus is, and declaring him to the world. Scripture is clear, this is not just for hired pastors but everyone. Yet, we often feel self-conscious—that we don't have a story to tell. But when you truly believe in your heart you have no shame. You don't care if others think you've lost your mind. You are a child of God and you are able to proclaim what you believe. You experience God's love so much, and he changed your life in so many ways that you cannot keep quiet. The world only knows about Jesus if someone tells them and we all have been sent in the Great Commission. But we do not go alone. Go with strength and confidence because God is with you every step. So go, plant seeds, form relationships, make disciples, baptize, and teach, and let's see what the Holy Spirit will do in the lives of others.
In reflecting upon the message of Pentecost, we are reminded of the profound significance it holds for our lives. The Spirit of God, an eternal presence, is made available to each and every one of us who believes in the name of Jesus. This same Spirit, symbolized by the burning bush, the violent wind, and the pillar of fire, is not limited by our worthiness but generously offered to all who call upon God's name. Pentecost unveils God's faithfulness, as His blessings and promises extend beyond a select few to encompass all the people of the earth. Through the remarkable gift of tongues, God's great story becomes accessible to everyone, empowering us to go forth to every nation and baptize in the name of Jesus. Furthermore, the Spirit of God acts as our advocate, articulating our deepest thoughts and carrying our inexpressible yearnings to God. In doing so, the Spirit continuously communicates the wonders of God to the world. Who will be transformed because of the Spirit's resting upon us?
Humans imitate and learn from those around them. In today's scripture, we receive a clear call to love and understand that knowing Jesus helps us grasp the depth of love. He sacrificed his life for us, but why? It only makes sense when we realize our own need and our inability to be truly connected with God. We are broken from the beginning, prone to idolatry. We cannot restore ourselves to God. Confessing Jesus as our Savior means admitting this need for salvation. Jesus willingly laid down his life for us. Now, having experienced his love, we are called to model it. We should be ready to selflessly sacrifice to save others. Maybe we're not always presented with situations to sacrifice our lives for others, but Jesus also shows us acts of charity to emulate. As followers of Christ, our hearts should break when we encounter someone in need. In those moments, we offer what we can to help. Through practicing love, we prepare ourselves to follow Jesus' example.
This text finds God's people conquered, dispersed, and hiding in exile. The temple, their place of connection with God has been destroyed. And yet, God offers hope—that he will restore Israel and surround them with his protection. Furthermore, the boundaries of this restored Jerusalem will be expansive extending God's blessing to the world. The world is to be blessed through God's promise to Abraham. The kingdom will be restored and God will dwell among us. As with God's people lamenting in exile, despair tricks us into believing that we have lost our favored place with God. However, this place we find ourselves—this space of despair and anxiety—is not our true home. God will again dwell with us and surround us with his fierce protection and love. Be still before the Lord and know that he is accomplishing it on our behalf.
At the heart of today's text lies the promise of blessing extended to every corner of the world without exception or discrimination. How will this be accomplished? (With a staggering 3.2 billion people lacking access to the Gospel, the work is still very much in progress.) The blessing will perpetuate through humanity despite our constant failures. But how? We must be in the world to bless the world. This requires us to obediently move from the comfort of what's known to the discomfort of the unknown. God is going to call you into places that are uncomfortable so that his blessing is continuing its fulfillment in you. You are blessed, not so you can horde it, but so you can carry that blessing into the world.
We are obsessed with finding shortcuts, "lifehacks" for a better and easier way to reach our goals. Even in the story of creation, Adam and Eve fall prey to this desire for an easier way. Although humanity was already made in God's image, the serpent is able to twist this truth to sow doubt into a distorted deception. Yet, even in the face of Adam and Eve's betrayal, God showed mercy and love by covering their shame and banishing them from the Garden to prevent them from living with the eternal curse of their sin. Death was brought into the equation as mercy, and eventually, allows us to receive new life in Christ.While our attempts to cover our shame fall short and our desire to "lifehack" God's plans prove fruitless, God swoops in with His love and grace to remind us that we are, and always will be His favorites.
Have you ever noticed how much a child loves their favorite object? If you try to take it away, you may encounter some resistance! But have you ever wondered why that is? It's because that favorite thing has become a part of that child's identity - it brings them joy and comfort. In a similar way, God also has a favorite thing - humankind. Out of all of creation, only humans were made in God's image and likeness. Yet in the fall of Adam and Eve, that relationship was fractured. But God will do anything to have His favorite thing back so much so that Jesus becomes the physical representation of God in the world to begin a journey of transformation and sanctification, the process of restoring our likeness to God once again. We, as humankind, are God's favorite thing—and this changes everything.
Can we trust Jesus at His word? In today's text, we discover the Pharisees still worried about Jesus even after his death. Why? Because all that he had said in the past had come true, and he promised that he would rise from the dead on the third day. Throughout his time on earth, Jesus made bold claims and promises that seemed impossible to fulfill. And yet, he did exactly what he said he would do. And despite all the Pharisees did—deploying a unit of guards to keep constant watch over the tomb—Jesus fulfilled His promise yet again.We can trust Jesus and take his word for truth. He has a track record of fulfilling his promises, and he has a future word for each of us that we can bank on. For those of us who are weary, he promises rest. For those of us who seek guidance and strength, he promises that the Holy Spirit lives within us. And for all of us, he promises abundant and eternal life.Take him at His word. He has a message of hope and salvation that can transform your life and bring you peace. And He will fulfill His promises.
We have a God who went out of his way to make a way to us, and for us. He chose to enter Jerusalem on an unridden colt, but why? He uses the colt to fulfill prophecy, to signal to us through rabbinic tradition that no one should use the animal that the king was to use—that he is indeed king. But he didn't come in as a warrior king with chariots and swords, but waving palm branches showing that the nature of his kingdom come is peace. Let us be a people that would join creation singing praise to the one who went out of his way to make a way for you and me, that we would be a sign that the Lord's glory endures forever.
You have been chosen and adopted as a child of God, adopted into an intimate relationship with the Father. While our faith is rooted in information, it goes beyond that to a spiritual space where you can intimately connect with God and be fully known by him. He welcomes you as a father welcomes his children. We are more than flesh and bone, each of us is a soul. And, though the world tells us we are unworthy if we can come forward in vulnerability, in all our weakness, God's Holy Spirit will meet with your spirit and say to you, "you belong." I am yours and you are mine.
Why do we experience hunger? In the experience of hunger, we learn what it is to long for and yearn for something. We know what it means to be empty and then be filled. We are built dissatisfied constantly in search of something to fill us. But God's love eternally satisfies. The Psalmist tells us God's love is better than life. The most impressive and meaningful moments you can think of, God's love is better. And so we are invited, called to Jesus to worship him. We worship because God is love and because God's love is revealed through our worship.
Whenever we give our love away it grows, but when we give it to the wrong things it can consume us. Like the leper, our sin makes us feel unclean—morally and physically. We easily fall prey to Satan's lie, "you are alone and everyone else would be embarrassed to know you." But in Jesus, we find cleansing. He SEES us in our unclean state and still offers us his love. If you trust him, if you can be vulnerable and go without knowing, he will change your life.
The paralyzed man's friends are so dedicated to bringing him to Jesus for healing that they literally tear open the roof to get him in front of Jesus. We all need a friend and need to be a friend that would bring others to Jesus. Who do you know in a time of need—physical or spiritual? Who around you is experiencing spiritual darkness and can use a friend to bring them to Jesus? He welcomes those who are hurting and those who have sinned. He does not regard them as unworthy, but heals them, forgives them, and calls them "friends." Who do you need to introduce to Jesus, for people know Jesus loves them when their friends tell them so.
Love is a basic human need. But how often has human love fallen short for you? But God tells us through His word that He unequivocally loves us.
This week in our series we hear from Payton Ruddock about when God's love became clear to him. Being a Christian does not mean that life is easy, but God is always there, ready to catch you when you fall. You are not abandoned. He's walking alongside you and has plans for you no matter what path you take. He is planning your restoration for eternity. Your story, no matter how large or small it seems to you, has value for others to know how much God loves them. How can you use your testimony as a witness to bless those around you?
There are places where we can't help but see God in the beauty that surrounds us but we must be intentional about seeking God in all things. Even in pain and loss, we can look to Him. We must experience a want, a desire, an urge to seek Him actively and intentionally in everything we do.
Have you ever felt that your story is so basic it just doesn't stand out? That it's not worthy of sharing? Maybe you want to follow God—really desire it, but all you know of Him is legalism and rules. If you follow the rules then you will know God. But that will only take you so far. Through Pastor Jason's personal story of how he met the Father, we can discover God not just as SOMETHING you can learn about, but SOMEONE you can experience. God deeply desires to be in an intimate relationship with you. Pray that you open your heart so that God will be available to you through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Would you rather be full or empty? It's kind of a trick question because if you become full of the wrong things you will no longer have room for the best things. Pastor Zach shares his own personal testimony of how he met the Father at a time when everything else was stripped away and he found himself empty and in despair. But in this space, his relationship with the father became real and personal. When you finally face your emptiness you can be filled with the loving presence of the father.
We are individuals designed to be in connection with others--in community with one another. While you can find community in a variety of places Covenant is a specific community, one connected in Christ, a vision when realized means that you are now a new creation in Christ. You engage and connect with the world differently in a way rooted in Christ so that the entire community is a reflection of Christ. It begins with the idea that we would love our neighbors as ourselves. But how do we get there? In 2023 we will be leaning into this vision through our annual theme "First Love." In this video Pastor Jason delves into the "quintuple" entendre found in this theme. Discover with us "First Love."
Christmas Eve. Jesus entered into humanity in an everyday common time and space to show that he is a gift for us all.
What does it mean that Jesus is the "Prince of Peace"? Pastor Zach takes us through a brief history of God's covenants with his people. Israel was living outside of the covenant just before Jesus was born—they wanted blessings without being a blessing. But Jesus was sent as a covenant to create one humanity out of jew and gentile through the cross—to bring peace through which we all are saved. The Holy Spirit is dwelling within you, closer than the air you breathe, let His peace infect you. And let us all bring that peace to the community around us.
While it can be confusing, the trinity—God as 3 persons—illustrates the relationship between God and humanity, not the relationship within the Trinity. So we need to understand that Jesus even though we think of him as a baby in a manger with a chronological birthday, was with God BEFORE creation. Jesus is carrying the attributes of the everlasting father to you and me even as a babe. He is everlasting. There will never be a time that exists outside of Jesus. Why is this important? Because Jesus is eternal, he can take on our sins to give us that gift as well.
What makes someone excited to receive a gift? Acute awareness of a need can make a gift so much sweeter. What comes to mind when you think of receiving a gift of a mighty savior? Are you in the midst of trials that lead you to great anticipation? But given our current culture and drive towards self-reliance you may be completely unaware and out of touch with your need for the gift of a mighty God. We either attempt to solve our problems or deny that they exist. But we are not capable of solving it all on our own and it is through experiencing our problems that we can accept the gift of a mighty savior. And Jesus is ready and waiting. You are his treasure, and like a momma bear, the Mighty God is ready to fiercely love and defend you.
Advent 1: We look to the story of the woman at the well to see how Jesus acts as a wonderful counselor. Jesus speaks with her in such a way that she feels entirely known. The depth of her shame lies exposed to him, yet his response to her says, "I know you, and I am with you now." In our shame, we act as though we can't approach Jesus, but Jesus already knows you and yet still came for you and me. Jesus is a "wonderful counselor." Walk with him, talk with him, confess, and let yourself be loved by him so that you can experience his wonderfully transformational nature.
Throughout scripture, we have many examples of the analogy of marriage to describe God's relationship with His people. Through this analogy, we find God imploring us to remain faithful to Him as He will be faithful to us. In Matthew 9 and Mark 2, Jesus refers to himself as the "bridegroom" providing us with a theology of the kind of love that Jesus has for his church—submit to one another out of reverence. The love that Jesus has for the church is sacrificial love. He gave himself up for her without thought, without deliberation. He cares for us as his own flesh and bone. And while we humanly cannot wrap our minds around this depth of relationship with God, Jesus wants to know you. Sit with this passage this week. Pray for the Father to reveal this truth to you in your heart. Don't resist Jesus' self-sacrificing for you.
In receiving a declaration of love, we may find ourselves feeling unworthy and undeserving of that love. How could this person who is so perfect have these feelings for me? In this scripture, we are told that we are the bride of Christ. The Lord takes delight in you and you will be married. We feel unworthy but God is making us worthy.—ritualistically covering us is righteousness. We cannot do it on our own. While we may have that head knowledge of this, our hearts yearn for confirmation, for conviction, and when we experience a glimpse of it, we rejoice in God as He does in us.
From his background and experience, Paul is the perfect person to establish Jesus as the answer to the great philosophical questions being pondered. He describes who God is, our responsibility to seek, understand and worship Him, and our accountability to his authority. Through the righteousness of Jesus, we have a standard of right and wrong and there is liberty for us in that we do not bear the responsibility for wielding the scales of righteousness. We were never meant to be "judge." But through Christ, there is clarity in the balance of judgment, justice, and love.
In Jesus, we have the one who does the most passionate and radical act of love that we can fathom. In washing his disciples' feet, he is modeling what it means to follow him and to walk it out faithfully. Care for my people as I have shown you in this act of love.
Jesus is "firstborn" amongst and over creation. He is not bound by chronological order. He exists on God-scale, divine time—before and evermore Jesus. Through him and for him all things were made. When we feel overwhelming peace looking upon some amazing feat of nature, we are experiencing Jesus. The elements of this earth are made to bend to his will. We see this throughout his miracles, turning water into wine, or feeding the crowds with only small portions. Even the rocks cry out his praise. You and I were made for Jesus. How are we glorifying Him in our day-to-day lives?
Everyone in the whole world has sinned and needs a savior. We need to acknowledge this. Furthermore, scripture is clear that we cannot save ourselves. There is no other savior but Jesus. This is the heartbeat of Mary's song (The Magnificat) found in Luke. Mary is a humble servant—the vessel through which the incarnation occurs. But she is clear that she is still human and has the same need for a savior that we all experience. She articulates for us postures through which we, too, can receive this. Just as with Mary, Jesus comes and dwells in us. May our song be "Live in me, grow in me so I can be who you want me to be." May our life's witness begin and end with the truth that we have a savior in Jesus.
We have a set preconception of "Church". We think there are certain rules and procedures that apply. The Jewish people likewise had standards and expectations for visiting the temple. In today's text, Jesus responds to the money changers and those selling animals for atonement by flipping their tables and chasing them from His Father's house. While there is an in-the-moment literal meaning in this exchange, Jesus has a much deeper takeaway for us with respect to our expectations of the Church, where God resides, and our responsibility as the body of Christ.
God—Father, Son, and Spirit–has a DEEP love for the world. His love led Him to offer His one and only Son for the salvation of whoever would believe. He rescues us from the depths and wipes our slate clean.
Choices have consequences as we see in these two stories of Moses. Very similar circumstances but two distinct paths. Do we choose to be faithful to God, or do we choose to do it our way? Do we care more about appearances than God's will for our lives?
Two identical situations, two different choices. We look at the ministry of Paul to see how God can be glorified through our choices. Sometimes it would seem that God has a very distinct choice in mind for us. At other times, there is no obvious answer. God's will is glorified by the execution of your will no matter the choice. You're not choosing a right or wrong path, but choosing to honor God in whatever your choice and circumstance may lead.
In these verses of Hosea, we're presented with a beautiful metaphor for God's faithfulness to His people. Despite the fact that they've broken His trust, God chooses compassion and relationship.
We can study the relationship between Paul, Priscilla, Aquila, and Apollos to see how the choices we make in handling conflict can bear fruit. When faced with believers of different views we could subvert each other or we can enter into conflict with love.
A difficult text but a deeper dive illustrates Jesus' beautiful intentionality in teaching his disciples that the salvation He brings extends far beyond the Jewish people. May we all have the faith of the Canaanite Woman who understood and trusted that Jesus has enough power in the mere crumbs to restore and redeem all people.
Do you ever wonder how the web of choices large and small can lead us to a momentous moment? Throughout the story of Esther, we see how a series of small but faithful decisions builds into the pathway forward for the Jewish people and ultimately God's plan for our salvation. Ester is a beautiful example of how to faithfully execute choices all along the way.
Learn how Daniel—a man above reproach—made choices to honor God even in his experience of exile and facing the repercussions of being put to death. What can we learn from Daniel about how to make choices as aliens in a secular world?
What do you fear? If you break it down, most fears are really a fear of death. Jesus, however, instructs us not to fear death. But to live our lives in a way that leads to life.
Does contentment equal complacency? No. In our modern culture, we use them interchangeably but Payton argues that complacency is results-focused, whereas contentment is your attitude in the journey. Furthermore, when we allow our contentment to be about goals, we put limitations on our own contentment. You'll say you'll be content when you reach that goal, but what happens? As soon as you make that goal, you move the goalpost. So how do we find contentment in a results-driven world?
Paul, in all circumstances, is constantly seeking out God's purpose for him. God has a purpose for us in each and every moment of our lives. It's not about results as a destination. It's about the journey—seeing in the moments, God's purpose. To find contentment, we must open our eyes to the joy and happiness that God has surrounded us with at each step in the journey.
We are to be in the world but not of this world. That means understanding our role in this world as God's hands and feet but also transformed by the renewing of our minds. We have free will but sometimes we get so caught up in our freedom that we forget that God has a will for our lives. Our will is defined by pleasure—and often leads to temporary gratification. God's will, however, might require sacrifice. But, God is always working things out in our lives for our good. All too often we place our will above God's will. We think that our faith is something that we have done, attained, and achieved. But Faith is always a gift from God allowing us to no longer adopt our will as the determinate for our lives but depending on God's will as enough. Yielding to God's will with the understanding that it is good, perfect, and pleasing changes the entire framework of understanding for those who believe.
What are you made for? We each have gifts given for a specific purpose. However, each and every person has been made for something that is not unique to you but is held in common. We have been made to worship. We have been made with the capacity to know that One we worship. How do we know this? We will always find something or someone to worship. Idolatry is something worshiped that is not worthy of that worship: our ideals, activities, ideas, people, ourselves, and the most common idol our stuff. But the worship of our self-created idols will never fulfill us because these are not responsive things and we were created to worship a living God. How worthless are your idols when we have a living God who walks with you along the way touching your heart with the Holy Spirit?
Some of us feel threatened by others' accomplishments. Our defensiveness can lead to divisiveness leading us on a path of self-justification. But through the story of David and Saul, in 1 Samuel 24, the Holy Spirit reminds us that we are already justified in Christ.
Studying the words presented to the Church in Laodicea we see how pride and self-sufficiency can get in the way of our faith. The opposite of love is not hate, it's apathy. We cannot say we love someone yet ignore them unless we need them. That's not love. Yet we do this to Jesus all the time. We pull Him out when we want to appear righteous and ignore Him the rest of the time. What if we instead fully loved and committed ourselves to Jesus? What passion could be ignited in your life?
Do you ever feel like in spite of your best efforts to be a person of spiritual and mental depth, you often tend to feel more empty than full? More dry than rich? More disjointed than connected? If that's you, what you may be experiencing is what Ronald Rolheiser describes as, "pathological busyness." Though modern culture glorifies a busy and rushed life, is God's best really for us to be dragged about by our schedules and smartphones instead of the other way around? Tune into this week's message to hear Jesus' invitation for the tired and spiritually distant.
Our lives are not meant to be ruled by chaos. When God frees us from chaos, He frees us for a purpose: To allow Him to order our lives and to spread that order all through the chaos of the world. This can only be accomplished through surrendering our will to His and allowing God's presence and Word to rule in our lives, just as it did in Genesis chapter 1.
Who is the person, Holy Spirit? Do you find Holy Spirit hard to relate to, or understand? Tune in as Anna Vargas delivers a passionate sermon that is both encouraging and challenging.
Pastor Dario Vargas brings a word from the Gospel of John explaining the importance of Jesus joining the disciples for one last breakfast. What purpose does He give them and what does it have to do with us 2,000-years later?
On the Road to Emmaus, the disciples walk in the midst of their grief discussing the events of the crucifixion. Jesus approaches them but they are kept from recognizing him. Did Jesus prevent them from recognizing Him? Perhaps he wished to impart some truth before they were distracted by their joy. Or, maybe it was Jesus that kept them from recognizing Him, but their grief. Our emotions can sometimes cloud our capacity to see what is right there in front of us. Often when distracted we don't see Jesus moving in our lives but He's there--right there with us. Sometimes it's when we look back that we see how God has been pursuing us all along.
During times of need, there is a tendency to isolate. But what we need to do is come back into Christian community. When we fall short of our calling we can experience shame. Peter experiences shame after his denial of Christ. But the others, pull him back into the group. Even in the midst of betrayal and shame Christian fellowship welcomes you back in.
But maybe shame is not the issue for you. Maybe you struggle with doubt like Thomas. Sometimes our doubts are so grand we wonder if we can even approach community at all. Will I be welcomed in? Even in doubt and rejection, there is space for you in the fellowship. Community is a gift from God. We are designed to persevere and strive together. You don't walk alone. In times of shame and doubt, you found a community that welcomes you and through this experience, you, too, will be transformed.
Points in time in which different things align are particularly meaningful. In particular, there is a point of power in a story when heaven and earth collide. In this scripture, we see this intersection. Here the disciples worried about persecution gather behind locked doors. Jesus appears to them and at that moment we see this beautiful alignment of both earthly things and heavenly things. Throughout scripture when these moments occur, when the Kingdom of heaven is here on earth, there is at the heart of the experience a pervading feeling of peace.
“In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.” The critical question is, "How long is a little while? What does that mean?" In this scripture, Jesus is pointing to a single moment in history, the moment when the disciples will no longer see him, and he acknowledges that there will be grief and pain. And this is a timeless reality for all of us—we WILL grieve. But, Jesus also points to an eternal truth—your grief WILL turn to joy. This is a promise that we can lean into whenever we are experiencing grief in our own lives. Wrestle through your grief with the Lord. Because Jesus promises that when you call on Him, He will be there. And the pain of momentary grief will be forgotten in the birth of eternal joy.
We have a false belief that our perceived lack of progress in our spiritual life shows a lack of God in our life. But, it's much easier to make noticeable gains in the beginning because there is so much change. In fitness, the biggest transformation happens at the onset of training. As we continue training, however, our transformation slows down. It's harder to make significant gains. What happens? We quit because we no longer see obvious progress. Our unrealistic expectations set us up for failure. The same is true in our spiritual lives. We throw out our faith as we struggle.
The process of transformation, however, takes time and it's full of challenges, discomfort, disappointment, and pain. Just because you experience these setbacks doesn't mean you're not growing. God is always there. He gives us gifts to persevere through the transformation process.
The most important step is: Do it. Practice. How do you expect to grow in something if you don't do it? Commit to yourself and God that you will spend 5 min alone with God every day for 1 year.
And don't alter your prayer as you go in an effort not to disappoint God. Pray openly and honestly from your own heart. Allow your prayer to become real. Matthew 6 tells us "and when you pray do not be like the hypocrites..." Open up your heart look inside yourself and pray about those things. Little changes every day provide big transformations over time. Don't give up.
After Jesus' death, do you suppose the disciples were prone to remembrance through their grief? Maybe you've experienced this after losing someone close. You talk about them, "Remember that time when..." As they talked about their memories of Jesus were they convinced that the story ended here? But when the women went to the tomb were told, "He is not here." Imagine what that must have been like as the angel appears on the stone and the earth trembles. But just as they reach this place of fear and joy Jesus makes Himself known to them showing them a new future of hope. So let us do as the women did, telling the world of his great love and of the new bright future we have in Him.
"I'll pray for you." How often do we casually throw out that phrase? Perhaps you've heard that we should "pray without ceasing". But what if you don't know how to pray? What if you think your prayer might sound dumb? You don't need to know how to pray, you only need to know Jesus. Prayer is a conversation between you and God—that's all. It doesn't have to be fancy. In this very practical text, James offers us four examples of when we should pray: when we're facing trouble, when we're happy, when we are facing sickness, and when we need to confess. James says, "Is anyone in trouble? Let them pray." But too often when we face troubles we try to make our own "enoughness" work it out. But we should pray because He is able and our prayers are a sign of our faith in Him. What about when you're happy. Sometimes that's even harder because when we're happy we believe that WE'VE accomplished something. But this is the moment we should stop and offer prayers of celebration and praise. When we are facing sickness—our own or someone we care about—we are to pray and invite others into that space to pray alongside us. Finally, when we have something on our hearts we need to confess, we are instructed to pray and confess our sins to one another. Allow your brothers and sisters to walk beside you in your confession and repentance. THIS WEEK"S CHALLENGE: Whenever you are compelled to text back "I'm praying for you" instead type your prayer to God over that situation. Or if someone shares their heart respond "Can we pray over that together right now?" The prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective. Let us pray without ceasing.
With a sense of urgency, these verses from James don't mince words. You Rich (sidenote: that's all of us), weep and wail because your stuff is all temporary. Yet that is where you put your heart and derive your worth—in things that are literally decaying. Are you more dependent on/committed to your stuff than you are in your relationship with God? The things that we treasure are mundane to God. The things that we hold up are so infinitesimal compared to what God has to offer. Why are we hoarding?
Likewise, how do we love and care for those who serve us? How can we lean into generosity in our everyday lives? We should be sharing the extra with those who need it. You see, we have it all upside down. We're fattening ourselves as if we are the sacrifice for the day of atonement. But Jesus while innocent took on our sins (hoarding, self-indulgence, and gluttony) so that we have His grace and strength upon us. This week's challenge: Move from a self-indulgent state of being. Consider an intentional act of generosity. What would it be for us to consider the needs of someone else this week and do something intentional to bless them? The world would richly know of God's grace and love...through us. Love others well.
These verses in James are a much-needed antidote to our desire for self-reliance. Our lives are but a vapor. Making plans without the acknowledgment of our fragility is a lack of humility. The time we've been given is a special gift, we can make it count by relinquishing our lives to the Lord. But we don't trust that He has our best interest at heart, do we? Worry is the enemy of surrender. But He is working and seeing in ways that we don't. We have a God that created us with a purpose that He wants to see lived out in all of us. This week's challenge: Ask God in prayer, "Where has my arrogance kept me from obedience?" Change can be abided with the knowledge that we are being guided by the captain of our souls.
Do you struggle with controlling your tongue? Words matter. In James, we see the tongue described as small but powerful— a horse's bit, a ship's rudder, a spark. What we say and the way we speak may seem insignificant in the heat of a moment but can have lasting life-altering effects. Our tongue, we are told, can steer us in a completely different direction or ignite something that can burn beyond our control—"a world of evil." We are then told in verse 8 that "no human can tame the tongue." So are we to give up?
Someone who can control their tongue is perfect, but we know we fall short of the mark. However, instead of being fatalistic, verse 8 can be seen as hopeful. We know the One who is perfect, and He gives us a mark to strive for. Each and every day we can strive to grow into the likeness of Jesus Christ. We can listen to understand. We can attempt to use our speech to bless others because all have been made in the image of God. This week's challenge: pray this about your speech: "How can I bless someone with my words each and every day?" Just imagine how the world might know God's love if we all committed to doing this.
Today we have more access to God's Word than ever before, and yet, has that led us to treasure it more? What would it be for us to truly immerse ourselves? To be more than "listeners"? To ask when we read, "God, what do you have for me today?" We are told there is true freedom in God's perfect law. God is blessing us with freedom from all that constrains us. When we approach scripture humbly, seeking God's message for us, His Word becomes written on our hearts. But then we are told to take it further. To not be merely listeners, but to be do-ers. And in that doing, we receive God's blessing.
Our violent world is a perversion of God's intention. It's an upsidedown distortion. What do we rally around to set the rhythm, the impetus, needed to snap it back to right-side-up? We turn to Romans 12:9-21. We accept that there is absolute truth and that there is true evil. We must hate that which is evil and allow our hate to lead us to speak against evil. Furthermore, when life appears bleak we can still celebrate the hope we have in Jesus. We are called to bless those who persecute—bless them with Godly conviction. We pray for transformation in our enemies that leads to repentance. We are to be advocates of God's peace even in times of war—and these verses are our blueprint. We are facing violent and evil times? How will the people of God across the world respond?
Empathy is a gift. In Jesus, we have a high priest who can understand our pain because of the weakness he took on. He knows and empathizes with the torture we experience facing temptation.
On the Day of Atonement, the High Priest could pass beyond the veil into the very presence of God—but not before he performed a variety of cleansing rituals and sacrifice. Simply put, sin cannot exist in God's presence. But through Jesus' sacrifice, the very veil was torn in two. He has taken our sin upon His shoulders and no longer must we exist separately from our Holy Father but we are welcomed into His presence.
God is working in you for His pleasure and it is entirely good. He is working in you to impart new desire. It is no longer about us. This new desire is to value others above oneself. God is working in you... the Kingdom is here and now. Receive the Holy Spirit.
How do you act when no one is watching? Culturally the Church is seen as full of hypocrisy. How do we combat that image? 1. we need to come in full humility and brokenness—as people in need of a Savior. 2. we need to walk our life of faith INTENTIALLY striving to imitate Christ. The humble posture of our hearts leads to spiritual practice, as we "work out" our salvation. We have salvation in Jesus Christ but we are working alongside God towards our holiness (sanctification). Let us respond, "Here I am. Work in me. Let my life be so reflective of You that the world will know you through my life."
Though we will surely fall short because of our human nature, we should seek truth, not our version of the truth or the world’s version of the truth, but God’s truth. We cannot let our feelings rule the way we live, rather we must use wisdom and discernment to live a life according to the Word.
Timothy has been given a gift that is to be used for the Kingdom and Paul is encouraging him to foster that gift and grow in it—train it—because by doing so, the Kingdom will grow. What are your gifts? Don't hide them away, train in them for God's glory.
We are training for Godliness for our own spiritual benefit. To be Godly, we must know God—we can't be like Him if we don't know Him. How do we know God? Through immersing ourselves in His word and through prayer.
2022 annual theme debut—RELEASED based on John 15:16-17—an answer to the yearning for purpose for our lives. We are saved and sent. Saved by Grace through Faith AND you are sent into the world to produce fruit. Before you even knew Him, Jesus chose you to be sent into the world to bear fruit—to have lasting impact. He believes in you, that you have exactly what it takes to perform what He asks of you, namely to carry His power into the world. Connected to the Vine. Saved and Sent.
God sent and sacrificed His son to rescue us, to save us, to revive our dry bones. We can have hope that our spiritual hearts can be brought back to life through knowing Jesus and experiencing his presence.
Words matter. We've watched as Mary has moved from doubt/fear to obedience to the Lord. Mary has displayed obedience that has led to surrender but not the overwhelming belief that will sustain her. But it is in this declaration, this proclamation spoken over Mary by Elizabeth that Mary is finally moved from humble obedience to ownership and the sustaining beauty of her overwhelming belief. The blessing of belief is the removal of a bent knee to authority and replacement with something of security. No longer because you have to, but because you get to. There is a God that so deeply loves you and is worthy of your belief. He is forever faithful and makes good on his promises. The pinnacle of His promises was purposefully positioned in a manger and was called the Prince of Peace. And even though sticks and stones and thorns and throws tried to devour Him. And defeat Him. Death’s distress did not have the final say. Our salvation was sufficiently sealed because Jesus made a way.
Mary's response to the angel Gabriel is troubled wonder...doubt...fear. So what is the lynchpin that moves her from her doubt to her decision? Some will tell you that doubt is bad, that it's a sin. However, doubt is a part of our journey of faith—that is our faith is made stronger through the process of naming our doubts to God. Will you confess your doubts and allow God's force (power, might, efficacy, ability, energy) to overshadow you?
What was the last movie or book character you related to? Mary's story is like that... a story and character we can ALL relate to. Mary is chosen to bring Christ into the world. She received the message from the angel "You are highly favored" but she doesn't feel favored. She feels scared. God knows Mary and His message through the angel Gabriel is personal. He calls her by name—biblically speaking, a rare thing. "Mary, Do not be afraid." It's a personal message that she in that moment most needed to hear. We are also chosen as Mary was, to bring Christ into the world. Do we shrink from that calling in fear? Sometimes. But as we hear through Mary's story God has a very personal message for us—"Do not be afraid." Whatever fear rises up in us there is an equally powerful and personal message from God. Do not fear, but be BOLD in your call for the Lord.
The first message in the Advent series is "Revival is Here." Payton Ruddock takes us through Mary's visit from the angel Gabriel. Mary, the quintessential underdog is given the message, "you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” But the message is to all of us as we enter this season of Advent. "You who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Prepare your hearts, get into the game. God's story has begun... the underdog will prevail.
Our world is in need of healing—we are in need of healing; Jesus heals not just in the obvious way, but if you look at the healing stories in Matthew we see that each time Jesus is also responding to a deeper underlying issue. He heals the broken spiritual needs with which we are afflicted.
Too often we, as Christians, function as if the spiritual ceased and is no longer relevant; We act as if we don't have any "superpower" yet Jesus blessed us with the power of the Spirit to be healing agents in the world; we are called to ask the Holy Spirit to intervene on our behalf. Are we willing to walk in wonder?
God is the God of comfort and He comforts us in our troubles. God does not remove us from troubles, but God comforts us IN troubles. God has more for us though, He is preparing to comfort the world THROUGH you. God uses you--your experiences with troubles, as a source of comfort for the world. Think for a moment... who do you know that could use comfort and how can God use you there?
SERVE Director Meghan Mazerolle walks us through the complex relationship between love and fear. Using 1 John 4:10-18 as the anchor text we discover what it means to know perfect love, to be perfected in love, and to attempt to offer that love to others.
We start the new series, "This Is Love" with a look at God's ultimate love story that begins with The Fall in Genesis. But in this story of judgment and condemnation, we see three instances of God's love for us. And later on, through Christ God takes on our decay—the destruction of humankind. When Christ is victorious, we are victorious.
"Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." The devil is a liar—it is his native language. He whispers to us always, breaking us down with the lies he tells us—we're not good enough...our sin is too great, we are not worthy to be loved. But he is a liar by his very nature. TRUTH: God rejoices over you. Whatever battles you are fighting right now you can proclaim victory because of Jesus' love for us—for YOU.
An ideologue is an uncompromising adherent to an ideology...a system of ideas or ideals. We're trained in modern society to view this as an insult we hurl at our opponent. But is not the quality of the ideology dependant on what the idea or ideal is? If the idea is good, or holy, wouldn't we want to adhere unwavering to that?
Pastor Jason uses this framework to delve into the words in Philippians 2:1-5. In this text Paul speaks of making his joy complete by one-minded of spirit and love. To adhere to Jesus' commandment—love others as yourselves; "As I love, so you, too, ought to love one another." How would our lives and communities be transformed if we were to truly adhere unwaveringly to this ideology of love?
Aiming for perfection of our own will all of the time leads us to either a position of defeat (I can never measure up) or one of complacency. (Jesus has already done the work, soo...) But the target is for our lives to imitate and announce the kingdom of God. Aim for those concrete steps that you can put into place... And know that 1. You are embodied with the presence of the Almighty God. 2. You don't go alone. The body of Christ goes on mission together.
Being of one mind is about foundational thinking—casting down all other idols and lifting up the one true God. As soon as we shift our focus to something lesser, it drives us apart.
Do you put church in a box? Is church a place? "I go to church at the place on the corner." Is it a time? "Church is at 10:30." With Acts 2:42-47 as an anchor, Pastor Jason reminds us that church is, at its core, a group of individuals bound together through a set of experiences that have transformed their lives.
FOMO (Fear of missing out) has become part of our culture. But what if we approached our spiritual life with that same fear? This week Pastor Jason takes us through the stories of the Fig Tree and Jesus clearing the temple court. Why are these two narratives linked in scripture? One thought is that Jesus may be telling us that our churches have all of the flowers and none of the fruit—in modern terms, have our churches, with all of their programming, and events, and consumerism, become fruitmess? Lacking in the Spirit? He goes on to talk about prayer as a core function of the church. We end our time together by invoking the Spirit of God in prayer as a church lifting up Afghanistan, Haiti, and all those who have been impacted by the COVID pandemic. #WeTheChurch
Do you want revival in your church? Pastor Dario walks us through the scripture of 2 Chronicles. It starts from a place of humility: humility leads to prayer, prayer leads to seeking God's ways and his Kingdom, which ultimately leads to transformation.
In this last message in the Revive Perspective series, Pastor Jason takes a look at what it means to be spiritual. What draws people to things like ghost tours? People are searching for spirituality—they're desiring transcendence. One out of four Americans considers themselves "spiritual but not religious." Yet the church operates as an information-giving entity devoid of anything spiritual. Maybe the life of faith that's being offered by the church is devoid of the power of the spirit of God.
But the Scripture calls us to "not be conformed to this world, BUT be transformed by the renewing of [our] minds." This is a choice. Because when we offer ourselves as the living sacrifice we are transformed no longer seeing the world as only material and physical, but as the spiritual—and we can see the Kingdom of God. What kind of hard reset do we need so that we enter into this world where the physical and spiritual are together? May we take the step of surrender this day...
Pastor Jason returns with a look at our shared mission in Christ based on Philippians 1:3-11.
We finish out our mini-series on Jonah with Pastor Dario looking at the sin of pride. Jonah is proud to be a Hebrew and a prophet. He feels he is better than "those people" in Nineveh. They don't deserve God's mercy. God asks... "Is it right for you to be angry?" Revive Perspective.
Pastor Zach continues our "mini-series" on Jonah with the insight that our God is a God of second chances. We open this week with Jonah reluctantly but obediently taking God's message to the Ninevites and becoming annoyed with God when he offers mercy. The good news is Jonah's misunderstanding of God's grace does not preclude him from God's mercy or prevent him from being a minister/messenger of that grace.
SERVE Ministries Director Meghan Mazerolle takes us into the belly of a fish as, through the story of Jonah, we explore God's radical grace and undeserved mercy for us. No matter our situation, our sin does not preclude us from God's audacious mercy. We are a continual work in progress and God can (and will!) use us even when we don't fully get it. God is the hero of the story always—and he alone gets the glory.
Revive Perspective with a look at Jonah. Jonah runs from the Lord, and the Lord sends a mighty storm as an act of love. How can a mighty storm be seen as an act of love? Pastor Zach takes us through the story and illustrates that God sometimes uses a mighty storm as an act of love and mercy even in our lives.
Linking the parable of the Prodigal Son to the Romans text, Pastor Zach looks at inheritance and identity through the lens of time and culture. It was so much about what we've done but whose we are. Upon his return to the Father the younger son (us) is accepted back into the fold. The older brother must show mercy by sharing what was left of the inheritance with the underserving younger brother, just as Jesus shows us mercy and shares the kingdom with us even though we are so undeserving.
Together we take another look at the parable of the Prodigal Son. Yes, the younger brother's sinfulness created (in his mind) a barrier between him and the Father... but Pastor Zach suggests that the older brother's obsession with always doing the right thing likewise caused distance. When our desire to be "perfect" becomes an idol for us—it essentially separates us from God. We spend so much time and energy trying to win the Father's love when it's right there, freely offered all of the time.
From Revive Perspective: this week Youth Director Payton Ruddock takes a look at the parable of the prodigal son. How do we try to earn back love from those we've sinned against. What does this parable tell us about our relationship with God?
What does success mean in our current culture. The incessant push to succeed is destroying us from the inside out. It's time to revive your perspective of what success means. It's not about what we do but who we are in Christ.
Based on Matthew 24:36-44, we recognize that there is an urgency to what it is that we do. The Lord has entrusted this community to you... We are to 1. keep watch, 2. get to work, and 3. share the gospel with urgency.
From the Revive Mission series... Pastor Jason visits the repeating themes of love in John's writings. We are called to love unselfishly. Jesus says if you love me, then love others. We are called to love both when it's easy...and when it's hard. We are told they will know you because of your love for others.
With an anchor text of 2 Corinthians 5:16-6:1, Pastor Jason talks about perspective, reconciliation, and our responsibility to offer the reconciliation we've experienced with God to the rest of the world. As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. — 2 Cor. 6:1 (NIV)
From the Revive Mission worship series. The greatest commandment: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ Love your neighbor as yourself.
Pastor Zach leads us through 1 Peter 2:4-10 as part of the REVIVE Mission series. You are being built by the most wonderful, skillful builder. You, because of HIM, have incredible potential for growth. You cannot lose. If you put your trust in Jesus... you will never be put to shame.
Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Jesus sets you free from sin and death
Awe and Action. We are called to both. Why are you just standing here? Go and get to work as witnesses!
Like the sunflower, we are to turn our faces to the Son. God made us alive in Christ. By grace, you have been saved through faith
Palm Sunday edition from the Revive Reverence series takes a look at David dancing with the Lord.
From Revive Reverence lenten series. Pastor Jason takes a look at the conversion of Saul in Acts 9.
From the Lenten series "Revive Reverence." Meghan Mazerolle walks us through the character of John the Baptist. We are not the Gods of our own life...we are not the savior of our own story. Let our lives be image-bearers of the truth...of Christ.
From "Revive Reverence" today's sermon looks at purity from a new perspective and reminds us that we do not walk alone in that pursuit—it is the strength of God that makes it possible.
We have many favorite portrayals of Jesus. Maybe you like baby Jesus at Christmas...or Jesus is Love....what about Jesus as judge? No? That didn't come up? What does it mean to fear God/Jesus? not in the phobia sense but in the sense that Jesus has sovereignty over your eternal destiny?
first in our Lenten Series Revive Reverence... Pastor Jason delves into Revelation. When is the last time you were awestruck?
What does it mean to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength."? Together we examine Deuteronomy 6:1-12. 1. Talk about God. 2. Give yourself personal reminders. 3. Have a testimony...
God knows you. God knows you in ways that you can't know you. God is present with you. God knows you because He wants to know you.
We love because God first loved us. God's love is not operating at its fullest intended purpose until it is flowing from you & me into others.
from Victorious. Is hindsight 20/20? Today we look at the story of Joseph as an example of how to look back on life through God's lens, to see how God produces good out of despair and death.
In this segment of "So True," we visit Abraham who is called upon by God to sacrifice his only son. How do we trust God when we can't begin to understand His reasoning? We talk through this and how Abraham's experience foreshadows Jesus as the sacrificial lamb.
Last message in the series, Letting Go of the Old. "Do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love." Oil and water don't mix; selfish desires of the flesh and those that come from the Spirit. We are not on this earth to be focused on ourselves but to be humble servants to one another.
From "Letting Go of the Old" Have you ever wondered what it means to be "born again"? How can that even be possible? Yet who hasn't yearned for a re-do? In this sermon, Pastor Jason calls us to see the invitation Jesus gives us to be "born again" so we might "see the Kingdom of God."
From "And I Will Give You Rest." "Be holy like Jesus" is a pretty high bar to navigate. How do we approach this invitation? Where is our hope's focus? On the past? In a self-created temporal end to our suffering? Or in the Eternal hope of Christ? Where we place our hope predicts its outcome and sustainability.
From the series "Come to Me All You /who Are Weary" Using Haggai 1:1-9 as a backdrop, Pastor Dario gives an inspiring contrast of living for your own kingdom, versus living for God's Kingdom on earth. Does fulfillment continue to elude you? What do you want your legacy to be? Dig in to discover how God's kingdom is available to you, right now, wherever you are.
From the sermon series "Come to Me, All You Who Are Weary" this sermon looks at maintaining faith and forward momentum in the face of fear. In writing the Declaration of Independence, our forefathers faced down fear by drawing on the protection of divine providence to show the world that there was something different—this idea that ALL are created equal with inalienable rights as children of God. Drawing from the narrative in Acts 11:19-24, Pastor Jason takes us through the experience of the early Christians facing persecution. God uses this situation for good as these men move from scared and scattered to sharing their faith "to the ends of the earth."
What is Biblical justice and what is our responsibility as Christians to "do" justice—to seek restoration for the oppressed? From the series "Come to Me" this is our first installment of the sub-series, "All You Who Are Weary." In this message, Pastor Zach discusses Nehemiah 4: 1-6 highlighting God's heart for justice. He then extrapolates and applies this principle to highlight the justice that could be done to holistically restore those who are victims of the current evil of human trafficking. To support Pastor Zach's Move for Amirah Challenge: https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/move-for-amirah-zachs-goal/zachanderson9
Using the story of the prodigal son, Pastor Jason discusses the importance of father-figures to our lives, community, and world.
In this sermon from the"Come to Me" series, Pastor Jason encourages us to look for the opportunities to seek God in our lives and to follow the "narrow path." We look deeper into the truth of the "Golden Rule" and discuss what would be different in our world if we all were to live it out.
from the series "Come to Me." God has wiped out our transgressions. He calls you to return for he has redeemed you. Sing for joy!
Our new series "Come to Me" starts with "Experiencing Return." Pastor Jason talks poignantly about racism, differences, privilege, and the church's role in creating a new reality.
From the "Free for a Purpose" series. The Holy Spirit has given you a purpose in which Jesus' love is made complete through you. No need to feel pressure, your job is only to walk in obedience—it's God's job to bear the fruit.
From the "Free for a Purpose" series. Live in freedom through experiencing authenticity with others.
Our weaknesses are being revealed and there in that space we are free from the trap of Satan. Confess your weaknesses, be honest with yourself about them so you can be free through Christ's strength.
Hechos 27:27-Hechos 28:2 Gálatas 5:22 Hechos 23:11 Hecho 23:23-26 Proverbios 15:4 Mateo 9:35-36 Mateo 5:40-42
What does Jesus mean when he says you must hate your family and even your own life to follow him? Zach Anderson takes us on a deep dive into what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.