The Upper Room Fellowship: Recent Episodes
The Upper Room Fellowship
We explored what total transformation looks like in 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, where Paul prays that God would sanctify us "through and through." This isn't about becoming boring or religious. Sanctification means becoming the most fully alive version of ourselves.Paul wrote to people in Thessalonica who had already experienced complete transformation once before. They had pledged total allegiance to Caesar, reorganizing every part of their lives around imperial loyalty. When Paul preached about Jesus as King, he was calling for that same comprehensive devotion, but directed toward a crucified rabbi instead of the emperor. This was revolutionary and dangerous.Paul's prayer covers three key elements: comprehensive scope (spirit, soul, and body), the goal of blamelessness (completeness and integrity), and a timeline that bridges now and future. The transformation God wants isn't compartmentalized. Physical existence matters. Our sexuality, health, work habits, relationships, and how we care for our bodies all fall under God's transforming agenda.We face a tension: Is sanctification God's work or ours? The answer is both. God does the transforming work through his Spirit, and we cooperate through intentional choices and spiritual practices. Like wind and sails on a boat, both are essential for movement.The spiritual disciplines create space for the Holy Spirit to work. They're not about sin management but character formation. We're called to identify areas needing growth, repent where necessary, and ask God to reveal our blind spots. God isn't trying to make us miserable but fully alive. The one who calls us is faithful, and he will complete what he started.URF WEBSITE: ➤ http://www.urfellowship.comSOCIALS: ➤ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/urfellowship/➤ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/urfellowship
Jesus deliberately chose twelve diverse disciples who would naturally clash with each other, demonstrating that God's kingdom unites people who would never choose each other naturally. From Luke 6 and Acts 2, we see that following Jesus means embracing both the beauty and messiness of authentic community. The early church devoted themselves to teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer, yet they also faced conflicts and divisions.We are called to work out our salvation together with commitment and faithfulness rather than perfection. Spiritual formation happens primarily in community through long-term relationships that serve as crucibles for growth. At The Upper Room, this happens through Sunday gatherings and Table Groups where we practice being with Jesus, becoming like Jesus, and doing what Jesus did.The sermon challenges us to grow in two specific areas. First, hospitality - becoming hosts rather than guests in our church community and extending welcome beyond our immediate circles. This builds the unity Jesus prayed for in John 17. Second, mission - not as an activity we do, but as our identity as sent ones. We live as people sent into every ordinary moment of our lives.Each Table Group is encouraged to regularly pray for specific people far from God, asking to be used in their lives. The message concludes with the church community walking together to consecrate new land for kingdom expansion, emphasizing that buildings are tools for making disciples, not ends in themselves.URF WEBSITE: ➤ http://www.urfellowship.comSOCIALS: ➤ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/urfellowship/➤ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/urfellowship
We find ourselves living in what theologians call the "already but not yet" tension. Jesus has already defeated sin, death, and evil through his resurrection, establishing God's kingdom. Yet we're still waiting for his return to fully establish that kingdom over all creation. This explains why we experience both the reality of God's presence and the ongoing brokenness of our world.Our current post-Christian culture presents unique challenges. Unlike pre-Christian societies that never heard the gospel, post-Christian culture has heard it, benefited from it historically, but now wants to move beyond it. We see this in attempts to maintain Christian values like justice and equality while rejecting their theological foundation. The result is justice without grace, law without love, and moral outrage without forgiveness.As followers of Jesus, we're called to be a "creative minority" in this cultural moment. Throughout history, God has worked through faithful remnants who maintain strong connections with the outside world while staying true to their convictions. Like the seven thousand in Elijah's time who hadn't bowed to Baal, we're part of God's strategic plan for renewal.This calling requires three commitments: faithfulness to God and each other even when we don't feel like it, discipline that brings our desires into alignment with Jesus' way, and embracing the quiet revolution of living such winsome lives that our neighbors are drawn to Jesus through friendship rather than arguments.We can face the future with hope because Emmanuel, God with us, promises to be with us always. We're not just surviving in a hostile culture but participating in God's eternal project of renewal until Jesus returns.URF WEBSITE: ➤ http://www.urfellowship.comSOCIALS: ➤ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/urfellowship/➤ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/urfellowship
Before Christianity became a religion, it was simply called "The Way." This ancient understanding reveals something crucial: following Jesus involves far more than believing the right things or following moral rules. The Way of Jesus is a complete lifestyle that transforms how we see the world and live each day.Drawing from Matthew 3 and the Greek word "hodos" (meaning road or path), we explored how Jesus presents only two options: the narrow way leading to life or the wide way leading to destruction. Jesus doesn't offer his path as one good option among many. He claims to be THE way, calling people not just to believe but to follow.Following Jesus means embracing three lifelong goals: be with Jesus (abiding in ongoing relationship), become like Jesus (intentional spiritual formation), and do what Jesus did (carrying on kingdom work). This apprenticeship model requires organizing our lives around these priorities through spiritual practices and authentic community.The sermon challenged our modern tendency to follow Jesus in isolation. Just as the early church assumed discipleship happened in community, we need both Sunday gatherings and smaller table groups. We cannot become like Jesus alone because community reveals our blind spots and provides accountability, encouragement, and growth.At The Upper Room, we ask four commitments: practice the way of Jesus together, gather on Sundays, serve the community, and give financially. This vision moves us beyond consuming church services toward participating in a family that supports each other's spiritual formation and mission.URF WEBSITE: ➤ http://www.urfellowship.comSOCIALS: ➤ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/urfellowship/➤ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/urfellowship
Sermon Summary:
Worship transcends a moment in time to become our heart posture of continual surrender to God's majesty. Through Psalm 150, we discover that worship serves as our "main event" because it aligns us with kingdom reality where God reigns eternally.David shows us that worship functions as both beholding and becoming. When we behold God's character through praise, we transform into His likeness as disciples. Recent research on emotional memory reveals how repetition shapes our brains, and worship interrupts negative patterns by redirecting our focus to God's truth. This pattern interruption heals and renews us as we encounter the God who inhabits our praises.Psalm 150 commands unrestrained praise using every instrument and voice. The ram's horn calls for attention, harps and lyres accompany our voices in freedom, tambourines celebrate victory in community, and clashing cymbals express our wholehearted joy. Each instrument represents delight and triumph rather than solemn duty.The psalm moves from describing God as Elohim (raw power and might) to Yahweh (personal, covenantal relationship). We worship not just a distant creator but our near, present God who desires intimate connection with His people.Worship should never remain static. When we surrender fully, allowing ourselves to be like seeds dying in the ground, we come alive in ways that reflect heaven's eternal praise. This becomes our practice now and our eternal future when Christ returns.URF WEBSITE: ➤ http://www.urfellowship.comSOCIALS: ➤ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/urfellowship/➤ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/urfellowship
Sermon Summary:
In our exploration of Psalm 23, we discover that being led by our Good Shepherd requires one essential skill: learning to hear his voice. Just as sheep instinctively recognize and follow their shepherd's call, we must develop our ability to discern God's voice in our daily lives.
David's declaration that "The LORD is my shepherd" reveals a deeply personal relationship with Yahweh, the covenant God who knows our names and cares for us individually. The psalm's imagery of green pastures and quiet waters points to a Shepherd who actively guides us to places of rest and refreshment, but only if we're listening for his direction.Jesus modeled this perfectly, doing only what he saw the Father doing and speaking only what he heard the Father saying. This divine communication happens in what we might call our imagination - the place where God's Spirit meets our spirit. Our imagination becomes the inner sanctuary where we encounter God's promptings and guidance.
The challenge is learning to validate these divine nudges rather than dismissing them as "just our thoughts." When loving, kingdom-minded promptings arise, we need the courage to let them interrupt our plans. This requires walking through life with our spiritual walkie-talkie on, maintaining a listening posture throughout our day.
Discernment comes through Scripture, examining the fruit of our actions, and aligning with Jesus' character. We're called to move beyond mere sin management to embrace the abundant life that comes from following the Shepherd's voice step by step along paths of righteousness.URF WEBSITE: ➤ http://www.urfellowship.comSOCIALS: ➤ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/urfellowship/➤ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/urfellowship
Sermon Summary:
This week we explored Psalm 126, a song of ascent that captures the beautiful tension between sorrow and joy in our spiritual journey. The psalm reflects on God's past restoration of Israel from Babylonian exile while acknowledging that deliverance often comes in two forms: sudden, miraculous intervention and patient, faithful labor over time.
We examined the rich poetic structure of this six-verse psalm, discovering how the Israelites moved from remembering God's past faithfulness to celebrating present joy to praying for continued restoration. The imagery of sowing in tears and reaping in joy reminds us that God works through both instant miracles and gradual processes.
The "already but not yet" principle emerged as a central theme. We are already seated with Christ in heavenly places, yet we still experience earthly struggles. Some prayers receive immediate answers while others require persistent faith over seasons of waiting. Like Joseph's journey from pit to palace, God often uses difficult processes to prepare us for greater purposes.
Our response involves three movements: remembering God's past faithfulness in our lives, maintaining present praise even in difficult circumstances, and continuing to pray with future hope. We must not grow weary in sowing good seeds, trusting that God's promises are "yes and amen" even when fulfillment seems delayed.
Whether we're experiencing sudden restoration like those who dream or walking through the patient work of rebuilding, God remains faithful. Every promise in Scripture will come to pass, either in this life or the next.
Sermon Summary:David's story in Psalm 34 reveals the battle between faith and fear that plays out in our hearts like spiritual musical chairs. After defeating Goliath, David found himself running for his life from King Saul, driven by fear to make devastating choices: lying to priests, stealing sacred items, and humiliating himself by drooling on his beard in enemy territory. Yet from his lowest point hiding in a cave with 400 social outcasts, David penned one of Scripture's most powerful declarations of God's faithfulness.The psalm teaches us that worship isn't just for good times but becomes our pre-decision to bless God regardless of circumstances. Like a magnifying glass doesn't make objects bigger but adjusts our perspective, worship makes God bigger in our field of vision until He's in proper proportion to our problems. David discovered that we become radiant when we look to God instead of our circumstances, reflecting whatever we're beholding.Fear represents misplaced trust in temporary situations, while faith places trust in the King over our circumstances. David learned to "taste and see" God's goodness not just in victory but in failure, shame, and desperation. This tasting goes deeper than observation, allowing God's character to become part of our spiritual DNA.Our caves aren't punishment but preparation. God never wastes trials but uses them to transform us from the inside out. The same God who met David in his cave of fear wants to meet us in ours, teaching us that our circumstances don't determine our God but our God determines how we handle our circumstances.
Sermon Summary:Psalm 24 begins with David asking a seemingly impossible question: "Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?" The answer he gives is equally daunting: those with clean hands, pure hearts, and complete integrity. When we honestly examine our lives, we quickly realize we fall short of this standard. We've all taken things that weren't ours, struggled with impure thoughts, lifted our souls to false idols, and told lies.This reality should drive us to desperation, but David doesn't leave us there. He reveals that righteousness comes as a gift from "the God of our salvation." This isn't something we achieve but something we receive. David specifically mentions "the God of Jacob" because Jacob represents all of us: broken, desperate, and running from our failures. Yet when Jacob grabbed hold of God and refused to let go, demanding a blessing he didn't deserve, God honored that desperation and blessed him.The psalm concludes with gates being lifted for the King of glory to enter. These aren't just physical gates but the spiritual barriers we've built around our hearts. Jesus stands outside these gates, not with a clipboard of requirements, but with nail-scarred hands, having already met every requirement on our behalf.When Jesus died, the temple veil was torn from top to bottom, declaring that the barrier between us and God has been removed. We can ascend the hill of the Lord not because we're perfect, but because we've received the righteousness that only Jesus can give. The question isn't whether we're good enough; it's whether we'll open the gates of our hearts to the King of glory who longs to enter.URF WEBSITE: ➤ http://www.urfellowship.comSOCIALS: ➤ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/urfellowship/➤ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/urfellowship
Sermon Summary:
In Psalm 84, we discover a song that captures the deepest longing of the human heart - our yearning for God's presence. This "Pearl of Psalms" was likely sung by the Sons of Korah, descendants of a man who rebelled against Moses yet whose children chose a different path. Where their ancestor found discontent and jealousy, they discovered contentment in serving God, even as doorkeepers.
The psalm begins with intense longing - a soul that yearns and faints for God's courts. This isn't merely emotional; it's an appetite for God that involves our whole being. Like sparrows finding safety near God's altar, we too can find rest in His presence, no matter how restless or insignificant we feel.
We see the beauty of pilgrimage - hearts set on the journey toward God. Even through the Valley of Baca (the valley of weeping), we can transform dry places into springs. Our maturity comes not through independence but through growing dependence on Jesus. We go from strength to strength as we journey toward His presence.
The psalmist declares that one day in God's courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. This challenges our modern pursuit of comfort and ease. God serves as both sun and shield - providing what we need in every circumstance. The closer we draw to Jesus, the more we desire His presence.
Whether we're in seasons of nearness to God or feeling distant from Him, this psalm speaks to our universal longing. Our hearts were made for His presence, and nothing else will truly satisfy.
Sermon Summary:Moses wrote Psalm 90 from a unique perspective on time after spending forty years in obscurity as a shepherd before God called him to lead Israel out of Egypt. This wisdom psalm teaches us that understanding time requires the proper context: God's eternal perspective from everlasting to everlasting.We live in a time-conscious culture, constantly checking our watches and phones, yet this reminds us that our time is running out. As we age, time seems to accelerate because each year represents a smaller fraction of our total existence. Eventually, we shift from thinking about how old we are to considering how much time we have left.Moses reveals that our brief lives, like grass that springs up in the morning and withers by evening, only gain meaning when connected to God's eternal story. This story centers on God's kingdom breaking into our broken world through Jesus, who demonstrated what reality looks like when God truly reigns. As followers of Jesus, we become kingdom citizens commissioned to bring heaven's reality to earth in our marriages, parenting, work, and communities.The psalm's central prayer asks God to "teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." Numbering our days means recognizing our finite time and using it to advance God's kingdom. This wisdom transforms our decision-making in finances, relationships, and career choices.We can leave an inheritance that extends beyond money to our children's children by building character, wisdom, and kingdom values into the next generation. One generation of faithful kingdom living can break cycles of dysfunction and establish patterns of blessing that echo through multiple generations.URF WEBSITE: ➤ http://www.urfellowship.comSOCIALS: ➤ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/urfellowship/➤ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/urfellowship
Sermon Summary:In our seventh week of Summer in the Psalms, we explored Psalm 2 and its startling relevance to our current moment. David's 3,000-year-old question "Why do the nations rage?" reads like yesterday's headlines, revealing that political upheaval and social chaos aren't new phenomena but recurring patterns throughout human history.Psalm 2 exposes three escalating levels of rebellion: internal agitation (ragash), collaborative plotting, and open defiance. This pattern appears everywhere people resist authority, whether in international relations, workplace dynamics, or our relationship with God. Every act of rebellion ultimately stems from the human heart saying, "I don't want anyone telling me how to live."The psalm reveals God's response to this raging: divine laughter that reflects absolute confidence, not cruelty. Like parents watching a toddler's tantrum, God knows something we don't - that His King has already been installed on the eternal throne. Jesus isn't trying to become king; He already is King.The early church in Acts 4 demonstrates how to live this truth during crisis. When threatened by authorities, they didn't pray for comfort but for boldness to continue their mission. We're called to develop a supernatural perspective on current events, engage politically without political idolatry, and create Kingdom culture rather than just react to broken systems.True freedom isn't the absence of all constraints but being constrained by the right things. The chains we think God puts on us are actually the chains He wants to break off us. As citizens of God's eternal Kingdom, we can engage earthly realities without being controlled by them, finding our refuge in the King whose throne cannot be shaken.URF WEBSITE: ➤ http://www.urfellowship.comSOCIALS: ➤ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/urfellowship/➤ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/urfellowshi
Drawing from Psalm 37, we explored how David addresses one of our most persistent struggles: envying the apparent prosperity of the wicked while wrestling with our own circumstances. Unlike most psalms that cry out to God, this wisdom psalm offers David's hard-won answers after decades of experience with both righteousness and evil.Our tendency to "fret"—literally to burn with anger—over injustice reveals a deeper spiritual problem: we're making eternal judgments based on temporary snapshots. We see green plants thriving and assume permanent prosperity, missing the fuller spectrum of time where all earthly success eventually withers.David warns that fretting leads only to evil because it causes us to operate as if God doesn't exist. Our anger, anxiety, and envy—even when seemingly justified—corrupt our decision-making and lead us away from trust in God's sovereignty.The solution begins with examining our own "double-mindedness"—the spiritual split personality that vacillates between trusting God and placing confidence in worldly systems. We must first address the misalignment of our own hearts before concerning ourselves with others' wickedness.True freedom comes through "dwelling in the land"—assuming our identity as citizens of God's kingdom where democracy has no place. We don't get a vote on God's laws or timing. Our role is to trust and obey, rolling our burdens onto the only One strong enough to bear them.The ultimate vindication isn't found in earthly justice but in God's long-term plan—evidenced powerfully in how early Christianity conquered Rome not through violence but through a man who committed His will to God and gave His life on a cross.URF WEBSITE: ➤ http://www.urfellowship.comSOCIALS: ➤ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/urfellowship/➤ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/urfellowship
In our Summer in the Psalms series, we discover that David wrote Psalm 27 from a literal dark place—hiding in a cave while running for his life. Yet from this place of fear, he pens a song of unshakeable faith. David declares that "The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?" He's defining his reality not by his circumstances, but by his God.We live in the most anxious year on record, bombarded by fear-driven news cycles that expand our sphere of concern while keeping our sphere of influence unchanged. But like David, we can choose God's truth over our circumstances. Fear isn't just a feeling—it's a spirit that paralyzes and makes us believe our problems are bigger than our God.David demonstrates that God is both in control and good. Even with armies hunting him, he chooses confidence because he knows the King of the universe fights his battles. The sermon challenges us to stop listening to ourselves and start preaching truth to ourselves, just as David does in verses 13-14.The core message is clear: our circumstances may not change, but fear doesn't have to be the boss of us. God is our light in dark places, our salvation from every enemy, and our stronghold in every storm. When we truly grasp who Jesus is and what He's accomplished, fear loses its grip because we realize Jesus is the biggest reality in our lives.URF WEBSITE: ➤ http://www.urfellowship.comSOCIALS: ➤ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/urfellowship/➤ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/urfellowship
This message explores Psalm 8, the first hymn of praise in the Psalms, revealing the extraordinary value God places on all humanity. David's words create a beautiful chiasm—beginning and ending with "O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth"—with human dignity at the center.The psalm addresses a stunning paradox: the God who set stars in place is mindful of us. We're made "a little lower than the heavenly beings" (some translations say "a little lower than God"), crowned with glory and honor, and given dominion over creation. This isn't about our greatness, but about God's incredible love.Jesus referenced this psalm when children praised Him in the temple, showing that our purpose to worship is ordained from infancy. We don't need to be exceptional to have kingdom value—God uses us even when we couldn't hold our heads up as babies.The message challenges us to live out our God-given dignity through three practical applications: Live at peace with God through abiding and contemplation rather than striving. Live at peace with creation by caring for the environment as worship, recognizing we're stewards of God's good work. Most importantly, live at peace with one another, remembering that everyone—including that difficult coworker or the person who hurt us—bears God's image and is crowned with divine dignity.When we forget human worth, history's worst tragedies occur. But when we remember we've received immeasurable grace, our only response can be extending that same grace to others.URF WEBSITE: ➤ http://www.urfellowship.comSOCIALS: ➤ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/urfellowship/➤ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/urfellowship
SERMON SUMMARY
We explored Psalm 100, the ancient "entry song" for Jerusalem's temple, discovering seven divine commands that transform our understanding of worship. This isn't just about Sunday singing—it's about living a lifestyle of joyful surrender to our good God.
The psalm begins with a "joyful noise"—not perfect pitch, but a victory war cry declaring that Jesus has already won. We're called to serve with gladness, not grudging duty, because we've encountered God's goodness. Through Christ, we can boldly enter God's presence with singing, no appointment needed—we're His children.
At the psalm's heart lies this truth: knowing God as our Creator and ourselves as His beloved sheep. Unlike the world's view of sheep as mindless followers, we're valuable, intelligent creatures who recognize our Shepherd's voice above all others.
We enter God's presence through thanksgiving and praise—the antidote to believing God is holding out on us. Corporate worship isn't optional; we're designed for connection to the body of Christ. Unspoken gratitude is worthless—we must verbalize our thanks.
Finally, we bless God's name by offering our whole selves as living sacrifices, reflecting His character through love-driven obedience.
Why do we worship? Because the Lord is good, His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness spans generations. When circumstances aren't good, we worship our way through, declaring His unchanging character over our changing situations.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- The sermon describes worship as "warfare" against the enemy's lies. What specific lies about God or yourself do you need to counter with the "joyful noise" of worship this week?
- How does understanding yourself as a valuable sheep who recognizes the Shepherd's voice change the way you filter the competing voices in your daily life?
- The message contrasts serving "with gladness" versus serving with grumpiness. What areas of your life reveal whether you're serving from gratitude or grudging duty?
- If "unspoken gratitude is worthless," how can you move beyond feeling thankful to actively expressing thanks to both God and the people in your life?
- The sermon challenges the idea that "I don't need church to worship God." How has corporate worship shaped your faith in ways that private worship alone couldn't?
- What would it look like practically to "bless God's name" by offering your whole self—your job, relationships, struggles, and dreams—as a living sacrifice this week?
SERMON SUMMARYWe explored the profound reality of God's silence through Psalm 13, where David cries out "How long?" four times in raw honesty. This psalm represents one-third of Scripture's worship songs that are laments—authentic cries to God during seasons of confusion and pain.We learned that God isn't offended by our honest wrestling. Just as Jacob wrestled with God and received a blessing, our complaints directed toward God rather than away from Him demonstrate faith. The church has sometimes created a culture where questions feel unwelcome, but Scripture shows us that authentic emotion—even anger—is worship when brought to God.God often works hardest when His work is least visible. Joseph waited thirteen years between his dreams and their fulfillment. Moses spent forty years in the wilderness before the burning bush. These weren't wasted seasons but preparation time, developing character to match calling.We live in an instant culture, but God operates on "kairos" time—perfect timing, not clock timing. Sometimes His silence protects us from receiving something before we're ready. Waiting becomes worship when we actively weave our lives together with God's purposes.Community becomes essential during silent seasons. We can borrow faith from one another and carry hope when our own feels depleted. David's psalm moves from despair to praise not because circumstances changed, but because his perspective shifted—from problems to God's character. We move from "How long?" to "I will sing" through remembering God's past faithfulness as fuel for future hope.URF WEBSITE: ➤ http://www.urfellowship.comSOCIALS: ➤ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/urfellowship/➤ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/urfellowship
SERMON SUMMARY
We began our summer series through the Psalms with Psalm 1 - the interpretive key to understanding all other psalms. This foundational text presents two distinct trajectories for human life, emphasizing that our direction, not our intention, determines our destination.The psalm opens with "Blessed is the one who does NOT..." - establishing boundaries before describing blessings. Like a good father, God protects the blessing He wants to give us by warning against destructive patterns. The text describes a "death spiral" progression: walking with the wicked (adopting their values), standing in the way of sinners (taking fixed positions), and sitting with mockers (teaching cynicism).True blessing comes from delighting in God's instruction and meditating on His wisdom day and night. The Hebrew word for "meditate" means to mutter or rehearse - actively rewiring our thinking patterns with God's perspective on reality. This creates deep spiritual roots that enable flourishing regardless of circumstances.The psalm contrasts two outcomes: the righteous are like deeply rooted trees that yield fruit in season, while the wicked are like chaff blown away by wind - lightweight and easily moved by cultural currents. Modern applications include examining our media consumption, friendship influences, and daily thought patterns.Every choice creates trajectory. We can build our lives on God's unchanging wisdom or be tossed around by whatever wind is strongest. The invitation is clear: choose daily to rehearse God's truth and become rooted in something that lasts.URF WEBSITE: ➤ http://www.urfellowship.comSOCIALS: ➤ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/urfellowship/➤ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/urfellowship
SERMON SUMMARY:
We concluded our Rooted series by exploring what bulletproof faith actually looks like—faith so deeply rooted that nothing can shake it. The problem isn't that we don't know enough about God; it's that we've turned Christianity into primarily a learning endeavor instead of a living one.Jesus taught differently. In Matthew 7:24-27, after the Sermon on the Mount, He made it clear: "Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock." The storms will come—they beat against both houses—but only the one built on rock (obedience) survives.We often avoid application because learning feels productive without requiring sacrifice, while obedience has real consequences and makes us vulnerable. But here's the truth: obedience is an act of faith, and when our faith intersects with God's faithfulness, that's when God shows up tangibly in our lives.The very thing that makes obedience harder—its cost, its requirement of faith, its vulnerability—is exactly what makes it transformational. When we step out in faith and experience God's faithfulness firsthand, we know His character in a deeper way than any amount of learning can provide.Throughout this series, we've explored being rooted in our identity, God's truth, His love, and recognizing lies. Now we discover that obedience transforms what we believe into actions that change our lives. The goal isn't perfection—it's progress. One step of faith, then another, building our house on the unshakeable foundation of God's faithfulness.URF WEBSITE: ➤ http://www.urfellowship.comSOCIALS: ➤ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/urfellowship/➤ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/urfellowship
SERMON SUMMARY
In our ongoing series about spiritual roots, this week we explored how to protect the foundation of our faith by identifying and confronting lies that threaten our growth. Just as weeds compete with plants for essential resources, lies rob us of spiritual growth and give the enemy strongholds in our lives.We examined three common lies that believers face.
First, the lie that we must perform to earn Jesus' love, illustrated through Martha's story in Luke 10:38-42. While Martha busied herself with preparations, Mary chose the "good portion" - simply being present with Jesus. Our works aren't inherently bad, but when they take priority over His presence, they become hindrances.
Second, we tackled the lie that our past makes us unredeemable. Paul's transformation from persecutor to apostle demonstrates that Jesus' death didn't leave us half-redeemed. Romans 8:38 reminds us that nothing can separate us from God's love - not our past failures or future struggles.
Finally, we addressed the lie that we're not enough. Moses' insecurities in Exodus 4 reveal how God's strength is made perfect in our weakness. The real lie isn't that we're inadequate, but that God isn't sufficient for us.Our minds are fertile soil where something will always grow. We must daily choose whether to cultivate truth or allow deception to take root. As 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 teaches, we take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ, demolishing strongholds through divine power.
URF WEBSITE:
➤ http://www.urfellowship.com
SOCIALS:
➤ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/urfellowship/
➤ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/urfellowship
Sermon Summary:In our "Rooted" series this Mother's Day, we explored what it means to be rooted in love through 1 Corinthians 13. We acknowledged both the celebration of motherhood and the pain this day can bring for many, recognizing that being rooted in love offers strength even in difficult seasons.We examined how the Corinthian church valued impressive spiritual gifts, knowledge, and eloquence – much like our culture today – but Paul challenged this value system, declaring that without love, these accomplishments amount to nothing. Paul's definition of love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 culminates with "love never ends" – a truth that resonates with our deepest intuitions about meaning and purpose.We reflected on Ephesians 3:17-19, where Paul prays for believers to be "rooted and grounded in love" and to know "the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge." This reveals two different ways of knowing – intellectual understanding versus experiential relationship.The sermon highlighted how love alone endures eternally. While our beliefs, gifts, and achievements will pass away, only what is done in love lasts forever. When our actions are motivated by love, they create eternal ripples that extend beyond our lives.We considered how church exists to create bigger ripples of love together than we could individually. When we gather as the body of Christ, we participate in something that doesn't end.Finally, we explored how God's love is always present in the now – not holding our past against us or withholding love because of our future. Like Jesus weeping with Mary and Martha before raising Lazarus, God's love meets us in our present moment while knowing our entire story.This Mother's Day, we're reminded that whatever our experience – whether celebrating or grieving – love always has the final word.URF WEBSITE: ➤ http://www.urfellowship.comSOCIALS: ➤ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/urfellowship/➤ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/urfellowship
Sermon Summary:This week, we began our five-week "ROOTED" series by examining the fundamental question of identity: who are we at our core? Drawing from Colossians 2:6-10, we explored how our true identity must be rooted in Christ rather than in conditional identities offered by our culture. Just as olive trees in Gethsemane have extensive root systems that allow them to regenerate even after being cut down, our spiritual lives depend on what lies beneath the surface.We discovered that the identity God gives us is secure and unconditional—we are valuable image-bearers (Genesis 1:26-27), purposeful partners in God's restoration plan, and deeply loved children adopted into God's family (Ephesians 1:4-5). In contrast, our culture bombards us with conditional identities based on performance, appearance, achievements, relationships, or interests. These create deep insecurity because they can be lost at any moment.Throughout Scripture, we see God working to restore our true identity. In Hosea, God transforms people from "Not my loved one" to "My loved one." Through Christ, we experience the ultimate identity transformation from outsiders to insiders, from nobodies to somebodies, from servants to sons and daughters of the King.John Newton's journey from slave trader to abolitionist illustrates how embracing our identity in Christ is sometimes a process rather than an instant change. His story reminds us that our pasts don't determine our identity.To live from this secure identity, we recommended two practical steps: daily Scripture meditation (focusing on verses about our identity in Christ) and community confirmation through Table Groups where others can remind us of who we are when we forget. When we're secure in our God-given identity, we become a church where people don't have to put on a show, where being real isn't scary, and where mistakes don't define us.URF WEBSITE: ➤ http://www.urfellowship.comSOCIALS: ➤ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/urfellowship/➤ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/urfellowship
SERMON SUMMARY:
In "The Four Gardens of Easter," we explored how the Easter story unfolds through four significant biblical gardens. We began in Eden, the original garden where humanity fell and was exiled from God's presence. Eden wasn't just a pleasant location—it was a sacred space where heaven and earth overlapped, where humans worked alongside God as gardeners to protect and preserve His creation. When sin entered, that intimate connection was broken, but God immediately planted seeds of restoration through His promise in Genesis 3:15.
The second garden, Gethsemane, represents surrender. Here, Jesus reversed Adam's rebellion through submission: "Not my will, but Yours be done." We saw how surrender isn't weakness but wisdom—the pathway to resurrection. In our own lives, Gethsemane moments come when we must choose between our way and God's, ultimately determining who's truly Lord.
The third garden is the resurrection garden where Jesus was buried and rose again. Mary mistook Jesus for a gardener—a beautiful mistake, as He truly is the divine Gardener bringing new life from death. The resurrection demonstrates that no situation is beyond God's power to renew. As Romans 6:4 tells us, we're united with Christ in both death and resurrection, walking in "newness of life."
Finally, we glimpsed the garden city of Revelation 21-22, where heaven comes to earth. This isn't just a return to Eden but its expansion—a place where nature and culture, wilderness and civilization harmonize perfectly. Through Christ's resurrection, this future has already begun breaking into our present. As we practice noticing signs of new life, embrace the rhythms of death and resurrection, and participate in God's restoration work, we become gardeners of resurrection hope—citizens of the garden city already breaking into our world.
Sermon Summary:
On Palm Sunday, we explored the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem from John 12:12-19. This pivotal event, recorded in all four gospels, reveals profound truths about our hope and expectations. As Jesus entered Jerusalem during Passover, the city was bursting with Jews who had traveled there to celebrate. The crowds welcomed him with palm branches (symbols of national victory) and shouts of "Hosanna!" (meaning "save us now"), revealing their hope for a nationalist Messiah who would overthrow Roman rule.
However, Jesus intentionally chose to ride a young donkey, fulfilling Zechariah's prophecy about a humble king who would bring peace to all nations. This deliberate choice contradicted the crowd's nationalistic expectations. While they wanted a warrior-king like David, Jesus was demonstrating that his kingdom transcended national boundaries.
We highlighted two key lessons from this passage. First, nationalism doesn't belong in the church. When we confuse patriotism with our faith or believe our hope comes from human leaders rather than Christ, we risk missing God's work among us. Our Savior doesn't reside in government buildings but is often found among the marginalized.
Second, we must be vigilant not to miss God's presence right before us. The religious leaders of Jesus' day knew Scripture intimately yet failed to recognize God incarnate walking among them. In Luke's account, Jesus weeps over Jerusalem because they "did not recognize the time of God's coming."
As we approach Easter, we should examine where we're placing our hope—in finances, family, nation, or the living God? We're challenged to tangibly meet a neighbor's needs this week, following Jesus' example of service and remaining attentive to how God is moving in our midst today.
Sermon Summary:In this eye-opening message on biblical stewardship, we explored how our relationship with money and possessions directly impacts our spiritual lives. We discovered three essential mindsets of true stewardship: "It's God's, not mine," "It's God's responsibility to provide, not mine," and "It's my responsibility to steward God's things." Through personal testimony, we witnessed how relinquishing ownership of a business to God through a formal "Decree of Ownership" brought supernatural peace amid financial crisis.The message clarified common misconceptions about wealth, explaining that Scripture doesn't condemn having money—it warns against loving money. When wealth becomes our primary focus (Mammon), it displaces God from the center of our lives. True stewardship requires three key actions: faith/risk, work, and increase. We examined biblical examples of wealth transfer through stewardship, including the widow's oil multiplication, the Israelites' exodus from Egypt, and David's victory over Goliath.Practical application included repenting for incorrect mindsets, adopting biblical perspectives on ownership and provision, giving all possessions to God, working toward debt freedom, asking God to provide without forcing solutions, living within our means, and working diligently to honor God. The message concluded with a warning from Deuteronomy 8:12-14 about forgetting God when prosperity comes. Rather than allowing financial increase to distance us from God, we were challenged to deepen our spiritual walk as our stewardship responsibility increases. We were invited to a forthcoming conference designed to equip Christians for wealth creation that will finance Kingdom endeavors and increase godly influence in society.
Sermon Summary:
We just wrapped up our "Unstuck" series exploring the 12 steps, but a question remains: why do we get stuck in the first place? Why do we believe the right things yet live like they're not true? The gap between intellectual belief and lived experience is where we often find ourselves stuck. We position ourselves as observers of truth rather than participants in it.
In 3 John 1:3-4, we see joy not in believers having correct theology, but in people walking in the truth. C.S. Lewis captures this distinction in his essay "Reflections in a Tool Shed," where he differentiates between looking at a beam of light versus looking along it. Looking at something is examination; looking along it is experience.
Like a couple in love who experiences reality differently than a biologist analyzing their brain chemistry, there's a profound difference between analyzing truth and experiencing it. The most important truths can't be accessed from the outside – you must step inside them.
Our problem? We're running on a secular operating system while trying to install kingdom beliefs. Romans 12:2 calls us to "be transformed by the renewing of your minds" – making our mental patterns new again and again. This isn't just reciting facts but transforming our imagination.
Hebrews 11:1 describes faith as "the substantiating of things hoped for" – making future realities feel substantial now. The heroes of faith didn't just intellectually believe; they vividly envisioned God's promises, which transformed how they lived.
When we get inside truths like Romans 8:18 – that present sufferings aren't worth comparing to coming glory – it changes everything. It expands our frame of reference, making current problems more manageable and giving hope in suffering.
Our task is to regularly imagine eternity, not just believe in it theoretically. Let's be disciples of our minds, allowing truth to get inside us so we live as eternal beings in a temporary world.
Sermon Summary:
In the final message of our "Unstuck" series, we examined Step 12: "Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we sought to carry this message to others and to practice these principles in all of our affairs." This step poses a profound question for all of us: What message are we carrying? Whether intentionally or not, we're all carrying some message through our words, actions, and priorities.
The concept of carrying a message originated with Jesus himself, who commissioned his followers to share the good news of God's kingdom. But why should we carry this message? The answer comes from Bill W., co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, who discovered that sharing his story with another alcoholic wasn't just about helping the other person—it was essential for his own survival. This reveals a powerful truth: there is no healing without helping. When we focus outward instead of inward, we find purpose beyond ourselves.
Despite this, we often resist carrying the message. Like Jonah, we run from our calling, gripped by what psychologist Abraham Maslow called the "Jonah Complex"—the tendency to flee from our greatest potential. To overcome this, we offered two simple actions: talk to people about God's love and serve people with God's love.
When it comes to talking about God, we often feel inadequate or afraid. But remember Jonah's sermon to Nineveh—just eight words that changed an entire city. God works in the space between our words and others' hearts. And our fears? Usually, they're not about persecution but awkwardness. In America, we won't be fed to lions for sharing our faith—we might just experience a moment of discomfort.
By serving others with no strings attached, we demonstrate God's love in tangible ways that bypass people's defenses. Like Sam Shoemaker, who welcomed recovering alcoholics into his church, we're called to "stay near the door"—close enough to God to know Him, but close enough to others to help them find the door too. Our healing isn't complete until we're helping others find healing.
Sermon Summary:
In our "Unstuck" series, we explored Steps 8 and 9 of the Twelve Steps: making a list of those we've harmed and making amends. We began with Jesus' radical teaching from the Sermon on the Mount that challenges our priorities. While religious leaders of His day would never interrupt worship, Jesus said, "If you remember someone you've wronged while worshiping, leave your gift at the altar and go make it right." For Jesus, reconciled relationships matter more than religious rituals.
We then examined the story of Zacchaeus, the hated tax collector who climbed a tree to see Jesus. Instead of condemning him, Jesus invited Himself to Zacchaeus' house, taking on the crowd's contempt by associating with this "sinner." This act of radical acceptance transformed Zacchaeus, who immediately declared, "I give half my possessions to the poor, and if I've cheated anybody, I'll pay back four times the amount."
This transformation illustrates the power of making amends. We can't simply say "sorry" while continuing to benefit from harm we've caused others. That's what AA calls being a "dry drunk" – physically sober but spiritually sick. True transformation means acknowledging specific harms, understanding their ripple effects, and taking concrete action to make things right.
The process isn't easy. It requires making a list, recognizing the harm we've caused, approaching those we've hurt with humility, and offering to make things right. While some situations make direct amends impossible, we can still practice "living amends" – consistently changing our behavior to demonstrate genuine transformation.
When we take these courageous steps of obedience, we experience freedom from regret, fear, and isolation – just as Zacchaeus did when salvation came to his house.
Sermon Summary:Shame drives us to hide. From the moment Adam and Eve felt shame in the garden and covered themselves with fig leaves, humanity has been stuck in this pattern of concealing our true selves. We begin with a confession – whether we realize it or not, we're all hiding something.The "Unstuck" series explores how the 12 steps of AA correspond with Jesus' teachings. While the first four steps help us acknowledge our powerlessness, recognize our need for God, surrender control, and take honest inventory of ourselves, it's the fifth step that often becomes the sticking point: "We admit to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs."This confession step is where transformation begins. James 5:16 tells us to "confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed." There's healing power in bringing our hidden struggles into the light with another person. When we try to manage shame alone, it only grows deeper.The distinction between guilt and shame is crucial: guilt says "I did something bad," while shame whispers "I am bad." Guilt can lead to positive change, but shame drives us further into hiding and isolation.What makes confession so powerful is that it shatters shame's greatest lie – that if people really knew us, they wouldn't love us. When someone hears our worst moments and still responds with love, shame loses its grip.The good news of the gospel is that God cancels our record of debt through Christ. We are fully known and still deeply loved. There should be nothing in our lives that someone doesn't know, because connection is the antidote to shame.Coming out from hiding means reclaiming what was stolen in the garden – living as we were always intended to: open, honest, known, and deeply loved.
Sermon Summary:In our "Unstuck" sermon series, we explored Step 4 of the 12-step recovery program: making a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. This practice, which began with Bill W. in 1935 through Alcoholics Anonymous, isn't just for those struggling with addiction but offers freedom to everyone.While the first three steps are somewhat theoretical (admitting powerlessness, believing in a power greater than ourselves, and turning our lives over to God's care), Step 4 marks the transition to concrete action. Here we put pen to paper, getting specific about our defects of character instead of hiding behind vague statements like "everyone has issues."Jesus demonstrated the importance of moral inventory throughout his ministry. He often helped people see truths about themselves they couldn't or wouldn't acknowledge. The difference is that Jesus could do this for others because he was without sin, while we need to focus primarily on examining ourselves rather than others.A proper moral inventory is both searching (thorough and deliberate) and fearless (done with the confidence that we're in God's care). When we avoid honest self-examination, we tend to fall into either despair or self-righteousness – neither of which leads to growth.The practical approach involves examining four key areas: resentments, fears, harms we've caused others, and sexual conduct. Through this process, we begin to recognize patterns and underlying issues that keep us stuck. While this inventory takes time initially, it eventually becomes a natural rhythm in our spiritual lives.This process isn't about shame but freedom. At communion, we remember that Christ's sacrifice is the ultimate answer to our moral inventory – the intersection of our honesty and his mercy is where true healing occurs.
Sermon Summary:In our "Unstuck" series exploring principles from the 12-Step Program, we focused on Step 3: "We made a decision to turn our lives and our wills over to the care of God." While the first two steps involve recognition and belief, this third step calls for action and choice—the pivotal moment when we surrender control to God.The sermon used the powerful metaphor of trapeze artists to illustrate this surrender. As Henri Nouwen learned from the Flying Rodleighs, "The flyer does nothing and the catcher does everything." In that moment between bars, the flyer must resist every instinct to grab and instead trust completely in the catcher's ability. Any attempt to help actually endangers both people.Similarly, we struggle with surrender because holding on feels safe. We grab our resentments, selfishness, and need for control, carrying these burdens even though they harm us. Step 3 isn't about surrendering a single behavior but our entire will to God's care.The 12 Steps reveal a profound paradox: the direct approach of trying harder often keeps us stuck. Like Paul in Romans 7, we discover that willpower alone cannot free us from destructive patterns. Freedom comes through the indirect path of complete surrender to God.True surrender isn't spiritual negotiation where we set the terms. It means following Jesus without trying to control outcomes. We're not surrendering to an indifferent force but to a Father who loves us deeply. Jesus himself modeled this surrender perfectly in Gethsemane: "Not my will but yours be done."Step 3 invites us to experience the paradox at the heart of spiritual transformation: in letting go, we find true freedom.
Sermon Summary:In this exploration of Step Two of the 12 Steps, we journey through the remarkable transformation of King Nebuchadnezzar. His story reveals how even the most powerful among us can be trapped in the insanity of self-sufficiency. Nebuchadnezzar, ruler of ancient Babylon and builder of legendary wonders, believed himself to be the source of his own greatness until a divine intervention stripped him of everything. Through his dramatic fall from power to eating grass like cattle, we discover the paradox of finding sanity through surrender. The sermon weaves together the ancient biblical narrative with modern research about wealth and compassion, showing how success often breeds self-centered thinking rather than gratitude. We learn that believing in a higher power isn't about achieving perfect faith, but about taking the first humble step of acknowledging we're not God. The message culminates in the practical application of simple, daily prayers of surrender: "God, would you be God in my life today?" This ancient story becomes a mirror for our own struggles with control, pride, and the exhausting effort of trying to be our own gods.
Sermon Summary:We explored the universal experience of feeling stuck - not just in snow, but in relationships, habits, addictions, and behavioral patterns. Drawing parallels between AA's first step and spiritual transformation, we examined how true freedom begins with admitting our powerlessness. The sermon connected the founding principles of Alcoholics Anonymous to the transformative power of Jesus Christ, revealing how Bill W.'s encounter with Christian fellowship led to the development of the 12 steps.We discovered that the root of our struggle lies in our attempt to play God in our own lives - managing circumstances, controlling others, and medicating pain. The first step toward freedom isn't trying harder but admitting our powerlessness over our attraction to do wrong and the unmanageability of our lives. This admission isn't a one-time event but an ongoing posture of humility.The message emphasized how real community forms not through sharing our strengths but through acknowledging our shared brokenness. Just as AA brings together people who "would not normally mix," the church is called to be a place where people unite in their need for God rather than their accomplishments or resources. This surrender to powerlessness opens the door to experiencing God's transformative power, making possible what we cannot accomplish on our own.
Sermon Summary:
In John 3, we explore the transformative encounter between Jesus and Nicodemus, a respected religious leader who sought Jesus under cover of darkness. Despite his extensive religious knowledge and status, Nicodemus discovered that proximity to religion wasn't enough – he needed a complete spiritual rebirth. Through their dialogue, we see Jesus challenging the notion that being religious equals being right with God. Using the concept of being "born again," Jesus explains that entering God's kingdom requires more than religious observance or moral behavior – it requires a supernatural transformation that only God can provide. The sermon unpacks Jesus' famous words in John 3:16, revealing how God's rescue mission differs from every other religious system. Instead of humans trying to climb up to God, Jesus descended to us. Through careful examination of the text and historical context, we discover how Jesus used rabbinical teaching methods to help Nicodemus understand profound spiritual truths. The message culminates in the clear distinction between mere intellectual belief and complete trust in Christ – comparing it to jumping from a burning building into a firefighter's arms. This teaching reminds us that Christianity isn't about self-improvement but about surrender to the One who came to save us.
Sermon Summary:In this exploration of John 15, we delved into what it truly means to be the church - not just a building, but an unstoppable movement Jesus called "ecclesia." We discussed how transformation happens not through our own efforts, but through abiding in Christ, the true vine. Using vivid illustrations, we explored how trying to manage sin is like holding a beach ball underwater - exhausting and ultimately futile. Instead, true change comes from staying connected to the vine, allowing Jesus to transform us from the inside out. We can't manufacture spiritual fruit any more than we can staple oranges to a two-by-four and call it a fruit tree. Real growth happens organically through our relationship with Christ. The sermon emphasized the importance of community, comparing disconnected Christians to severed body parts that cannot thrive alone. We explored how discipleship involves discovering our identity in Christ, deepening our relationship through spiritual practices, and serving others. The message culminated in understanding that while we can do nothing apart from Christ, there's no limit to what He can produce in our lives when we remain connected to Him. This journey isn't about trying harder but about staying closer to the source of transformation.URF WEBSITE: ➤ http://www.urfellowship.comSOCIALS: ➤ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/urfellowship/➤ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/urfellowship
Sermon Summary:In this New Year's message, we explored four pivotal scriptures that define the essence and purpose of the church. Beginning in Matthew 16, we journey to Caesarea Philippi, where Jesus declared He would build His church on the foundation of His identity as Messiah. We learned how the original Greek word "ekklesia" described a dynamic movement rather than just a building. The Great Commission in Matthew 28 reveals our mandate to make disciples, not merely as overseas missionaries but in our daily lives through sharing faith, extending specific invitations, and walking alongside others. Acts 1:8 shows how the Holy Spirit empowers believers for this mission, while Luke 4 presents Jesus' own mission statement - bringing good news to the poor, freedom to captives, sight to the blind, and declaring God's favor. This creates a complete picture of the church's purpose: to continue Jesus' mission through the power of the Spirit, making disciples who make disciples. We're reminded that we're not saved just to be saved, but saved to be sent - blessed to be a blessing to others. The church isn't about buildings or programs but about being Jesus' hands and feet in the world, bringing freedom, healing, and transformation to our communities.
In this New Year's message, we explore the profound metaphor of spiritual clothing and how our heavenly Father clothes us. Drawing from Ephesians 6's armor of God passage, we examine how spiritual warfare manifests in our daily lives - from marriage struggles to personal faith challenges. The sermon weaves together imagery of animal molting, new wineskins, and the prodigal son's story to illustrate how God transforms us through seasons of uncomfortable growth. We learn that just as animals must undergo vulnerable periods of shedding to grow, we too must allow ourselves to be stripped of old patterns and ways of thinking to receive the new garments God has for us. The message emphasizes that this transformation isn't about self-improvement but about surrendering to God's work in our lives. Through personal stories of parenting, marriage challenges, and spiritual dry seasons, we see how God continues to clothe us with truth, righteousness, and grace - even when we feel most unqualified or uncomfortable. The sermon concludes with a powerful reminder that Jesus runs toward us with a ring and robe, eager to clothe us in our true identity as His children.
In this Christmas message, we explore why our culture's endless search for magic - from Marvel movies to Superman - points to a deeper spiritual longing. The Christmas story introduces us to shepherds, society's outcasts and criminals, who become the first recipients of history's greatest news. Through their story, we discover how God intentionally chooses the unlikely and unworthy to showcase His grace. Drawing parallels between Mayor LaGuardia's courtroom grace and God's intervention in human history, we see how Christmas represents God stepping directly into our mess. The sermon challenges our cultural narrative of self-help and self-salvation, presenting instead the revolutionary concept that we need rescue from outside ourselves. Using C.S. Lewis's Narnia allegory, we understand how Jesus's birth was part of God's rescue mission, culminating in the cross and resurrection. The message concludes by addressing how Christmas exposes the emptiness of materialism and invites us to rediscover childlike faith, embracing the true magic of God's grace that transforms both our eternal destiny and our daily lives.
We explored the fascinating story of the Magi – not the three kings of Christmas card fame, but Persian astrologers who practiced a form of wisdom that God's people were actually told to avoid. Yet mysteriously, God invited these pagan scholars to witness something extraordinary. These educated stargazers could get themselves to Jerusalem through their learning, but they needed Scripture's wisdom to find Jesus in tiny Bethlehem. Their journey shows us three key insights about wisdom: true wisdom comes from God, human understanding has real limits, and worldly wisdom often misses what matters most. While their education and star charts could point them toward a king, only God's revelation could bring them to their knees before a baby in a humble home. The Magi remind us that no matter how educated or accomplished we become, our hearts are restless until they find their rest in worship of Jesus. Their story challenges our cultural assumptions about success, status, and what truly matters in God's kingdom.
In this exploration of Luke 1, we journey beyond the sanitized Christmas card version to uncover the raw, supernatural drama of the nativity story. We examine how Mary's hurried 100-mile journey to Elizabeth wasn't just a family visit, but possibly a desperate attempt to save her life. The sermon unpacks how John the Baptist, still in Elizabeth's womb, recognized Jesus' presence and leaped for joy, marking one of the first demonstrations of the Holy Spirit's transformative power in the New Testament era. Through Elizabeth's remarkable response to Mary's arrival, we discover profound lessons about humility, comparison, and the authentic work of the Holy Spirit. The message weaves together themes of supernatural transformation, pride versus humility, and the revolutionary nature of Christianity where divine power comes not through human achievement but through humble reception of God's Spirit. Drawing parallels between popular fantasy literature and the true supernatural narrative of Christmas, we see how this historical event fulfills humanity's deepest longings for magic and meaning.
Sermon Summary:
In this advent message, we explore the extraordinary nature of the Christmas story through the lens of what C.S. Lewis called "deep magic" - the reality that our world isn't just a closed system of cause and effect, but rather infused with divine presence and purpose. We journey through the announcement of Jesus's birth to Mary in Nazareth, examining how God consistently chooses unlikely places and people to accomplish His purposes. The sermon draws parallels between our beloved Christmas movies and our deep longing for something magical and meaningful in our lives. We discover that Nazareth, a town so insignificant it wasn't mentioned in historical records, became the starting point of the greatest story ever told. Through Mary and Joseph's story, we learn that what we often view as interruptions in our lives might actually be divine invitations. The message challenges us to see beyond our daily distractions and recognize that God specializes in doing remarkable things through seemingly unremarkable people and places. This advent season reminds us that just as God broke into history through a virgin birth in an insignificant town, He continues to work in unexpected ways today, inviting us to participate in His story of redemption.
Sermon Summary:In this final installment of our Nehemiah series, we explore what happens after the seemingly perfect ending of Jerusalem's wall being rebuilt. After 12 years of successful leadership, Nehemiah returns to his position in Susa, only to discover years later that everything he built is falling apart. The temple is compromised, worship is neglected, and the people have broken their covenants. Rather than accepting defeat, Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem and takes dramatic action - including throwing out temple squatters and confronting those who broke their vows. Through this unusual ending, we learn that spiritual progress requires constant vigilance and intentional maintenance. The sermon connects this ancient story to our modern struggle of maintaining spiritual victories and the importance of persevering in intentionality. We explore Paul's teachings in Ephesians about walking wisely and understanding that while no one plans to fail, many fail to plan not to. The message concludes with various New Testament exhortations to perseverance, reminding us that spiritual growth is a daily journey requiring consistent, intentional effort.Discussion Questions:- What areas of your life have you seen "deteriorate" after periods of victory? How do you typically respond?- How do you balance between being patient with progress and being forceful against regression?- What's your reaction to Nehemiah's intense response to finding the temple compromised? Was his anger justified?- In what ways do you find yourself "drifting from intentional holiness"?- What specific practices help you maintain spiritual victories in your life?- How can we apply the principle of "persevering in intentionality" to our daily lives?
In this sermon, we explore the book of Ezekiel, focusing on the prophet's extraordinary vision by the Kebar River in Babylon. We delve into Ezekiel's background as a priest, accustomed to the structured worship in Jerusalem's temple, and how his exile to Babylon shattered his understanding of God's presence. The sermon highlights how God sometimes bypasses our rational mind to speak directly to our hearts, especially in times of great suffering or confusion. We examine the vivid imagery in Ezekiel's vision, interpreting it as God's way of communicating His omnipresence and power, even in foreign lands dominated by other deities. The message emphasizes that some spiritual truths can only be learned through difficult experiences, like exile. We are challenged to recognize God's presence in unexpected places and everyday situations, moving beyond the tendency to localize the Divine to specific geographic locations or circumstances. Ultimately, the sermon encourages us to remain open to encountering God in new and profound ways, even amidst life's most challenging moments.
In this sermon, we explore the idea that the darkness and challenges we see in the world, and even in our personal lives, do not have the final say. We examine the historical event of Pope John Paul II’s visit to Poland in 1979 and the subsequent fall of communism, highlighting the power of hope and faith in Christ. We are reminded that God's kingdom is not in decline, but rather, it is growing exponentially around the world, often in ways we may not immediately see. We are challenged to adopt the "mindset of Christ," as described in Philippians 2:5-9, which involves embracing humility and recognizing that God's power is often most evident in our weakness. Just as Christ's crucifixion, the ultimate symbol of shame and defeat, was followed by his resurrection and exaltation, so too can our darkest moments be transformed by God's grace and power.
In this sermon on forgiveness, we explore the challenging yet transformative power of letting go of resentment and embracing grace. Drawing from Luke 17:3-10, we delve into Jesus' teachings on forgiveness and the disciples' startled response, "Increase our faith!"The sermon highlights three key steps to forgiveness:- Identify with the wrongdoer instead of focusing on differences- Inwardly surrender the right to repayment and absorb the debt yourself- Actively want good for the person who wronged youWe learn that forgiveness is not about excusing the wrong, but acknowledging it and choosing to release the debt. It's a process that may take time, but leads to personal freedom and spiritual growth.
In this sermon, we explore the concept of "Soul-Care" and our fundamental need for security. The message begins with a historical anecdote about the Great Fire of London in 1666, which led to the creation of the first insurance companies. This segues into a deeper discussion about our human craving for safety and security.The sermon delves into how our souls are designed to find security in God, as illustrated in the creation story and throughout Scripture. However, sin introduced fear and insecurity into our lives, causing us to seek safety in the wrong places. We often try to find security through control, reputation, financial stability, or comfort, but these ultimately fail to provide true soul-level security.Using the story of Jesus calming the storm, the sermon challenges us to examine where we place our faith. Are we trusting in our own abilities, possessions, or status, or are we anchoring our souls in God? The message emphasizes that God is frequently described in the Bible as a refuge and hiding place, even by those facing constant danger.To cultivate true soul security, the sermon offers two main pieces of advice: resist compromise and step out of our comfort zone. By standing firm in our faith and being willing to take risks for God's kingdom, we paradoxically find greater security for our souls.The sermon concludes with a powerful reminder that while following Jesus isn't always "safe" in worldly terms, it's ultimately the only path to true soul security. We're challenged to anchor our souls in Christ, trusting that He is good even when circumstances feel uncertain.This message serves as a call to action for believers to examine their sources of security, to trust God more deeply, and to live boldly for His kingdom. It encourages us to find our refuge in Jesus, not in the temporary comforts and false securities of this world.
In our fast-paced world, where challenges are many and moments of joy can seem fleeting, it’s crucial to remember that celebration is not merely an optional extra; it is foundational to a vibrant spiritual life. Jesus himself lived with exuberance, connecting deeply with others and spreading joy effortlessly. His teachings encourage us to rejoice across various circumstances, teaching us that every day presents an opportunity for gratitude and festivity.The practice of celebration goes beyond recovery from hardship or commemorating milestones; it serves as a daily act against the grain of a culture often devoid of true happiness.
This video delves into the spiritual practice of evangelism and Jesus’ instructions to his disciples for spreading the message. It touches on the disciples’ initial fear post-crucifixion, and how Jesus empowered them by commissioning them to continue his work. The sermon stresses the importance of the Holy Spirit in evangelism, overcoming fear, and the supernatural possibilities involved. It explores a different model of evangelism focusing on praying peace for others, aligning with God’s will for wholeness and harmony. Additionally, it emphasizes building relationships, prioritizing love over judgment, and engaging with diverse individuals for spiritual transformation. The sermon encourages listeners to embody kingdom values, serve unconditionally, and be led by the Holy Spirit in sharing God’s love and grace with boldness.
In today’s sermon, we reflect on three key points regarding Jesus' role in reconciling humanity with God, debunking negative perceptions associated with spreading one's faith, and embracing our roles as ambassadors who carry forth a message of unconditional love.Whether you've been hesitant due to past experiences or simply want to learn how to share your faith authentically without fear, this conversation will provide fresh insights into making meaningful connections rooted in compassion and truth.Discover how real good news has nothing to do with coercion but everything to do with liberation through God’s grace—and consider becoming part of this new creation journey yourself! Don't miss out on redefining what it means to be an effective witness for Christ in today's world.If you're seeking guidance on beginning your own journey in faith or need prayer support after today's service, don't hesitate—reach out now!
Join us this blessed Easter Sunday as we delve into an insightful sermon based around Daniel chapter 12! Discover how ancient prophecies align with our own hopes for resurrection and eternal life—a message made all the more poignant by Jesus' triumph over death itself.This four-part mini-sermon series explores profound themes such as:- The transformation from physical death to everlasting life.- Anticipating ultimate renewal when Christ returns.- Navigating between present promise and future fulfillment.- Discerning truth against skepticism surrounding resurrection narratives.
Join us this Palm Sunday as Pastor Chris takes a pause from our regular series to reflect on the significance of Holy Week. Dive deep into the story of Jesus and find meaning in the waiting of Easter Saturday.
- 🕊️ Discover the purpose behind 'Easter Saturday', a day symbolizing waiting between despair and hope, through biblical patterns and C.S. Lewis's writings.
Dive into the transformative power of imagination in spirituality with today's talk, where we uncover how envisioning our faith can lead to a deeper connection with God. Discover the often overlooked but foundational role that imagination plays in experiencing the divine.
-
Discussing why some worshippers feel disconnected during religious practices and how imagination bridges that gap.
-
Exploring St. Francis de Sales' insights on using imagination for meditation and neuroscience's confirmation of image-based thinking.
-
Examining Biblical instances of God communicating through visions and dreams, urging us to pay attention to these personal spiritual encounters.
-
Encouraging believers to actively use their sanctified imaginations as A.W Tozer suggests, seeing beyond natural things into spiritual realities.
-
Offering practical advice on incorporating imaginative practice into prayer, worship, and Bible reading for a more authentic engagement with faith.
Remember: Imagination isn't about pretending; it's about perceiving God's ever-present love and letting it transform you from glory to glory.
Dive into the transformative power of spiritual formation with our latest Practices of the Kingdom series. Discover how to align your life more closely with Christ through practical disciplines.
-
Understand that spiritual transformation is about revealing your true self, already holy and blameless in Jesus.
-
Learn about various spiritual disciplines tailored for individual needs, including diverse prayer practices like journaling and walking prayer.
-
Gain insights from Elijah's story on the importance of simplicity and listening for God's gentle whisper amidst life’s chaos.
-
Embrace a lifestyle of contentment by decluttering not just possessions but also time commitments to focus on what truly matters.
-
Challenge yourself to evaluate each aspect of your life against Jesus' desires, simplifying to deepen relationships and connect with God.
Join us as we seek stillness in a busy world, listen for God's voice, and transform through His Spirit.
Explore the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in this discussion on 2 Corinthians 3:17. Discover how true freedom and change are achieved through divine intervention, not just human effort.URF WEBSITE: ➤ http://www.urfellowship.com
Dive deep into spiritual formation with us as we journey to align our lives more closely with Jesus. Discover transformative practices that can lead you towards a life of abundance and authenticity.- 🌱 Unpack the essence of spiritual growth and its impact on discipleship, emphasizing the importance of becoming who God designed us to be.- 💡 Learn how renewing our minds through Scripture leads to replacing destructive habits with life-giving community practices.- ✨ Understand why mere knowledge isn't enough without putting Jesus' teachings into practice, as true growth requires disciplined action.- ❤️ Explore how embracing spiritual disciplines helps in partnering with the Holy Spirit for genuine transformation towards Christlikeness.- 🔄 Reflect on your daily routines and identify which habits need changing to better reflect your aspirations and identity in Christ.Join us at Upper Room Fellowship where purposeful living meets intentional community. Together, let's run the race set before us (1 Corinthians 9:26)
Dive into the challenge of transforming your life to align with Christ's teachings in today's video. Discover how intentional spiritual formation can help you live more abundantly and authentically.- 📖 Unpacking the influence of cultural narratives on our personal worldview and their clash with biblical truths.- 🧠 Exploring neuroplasticity and its role in reshaping our minds through consistent exposure to Scripture.- ✝️ Identifying false stories we've been told and replacing them with lessons from Jesus' parables.- 🛠 Practical steps for embedding true narratives into daily life, including regular Bible reading and finding mentors.- 💡 Emphasizing that knowledge alone isn't enough—we must also engage in transformative practices, which we'll explore further next week.Join us as we seek God's wisdom to navigate a world filled with misleading stories about who we are meant to be.
Welcome! Today we dive deep into Luke 1:26 and explore the incredible love story revealed in the Trinity's involvement in the incarnation. Join us as we unwrap the layers of God's self-giving love, understanding its significance in the Christmas narrative. From the angelic message to Mary to the compassionate acts of Jesus, every moment reflects the core of Advent—God's boundless love.
Welcome, dear friends, to a heartwarming journey of joy and revelation! In this video, we dive deep into the true essence of joy, unwrapping its layers from a simple definition to its profound connection with God. Join us as we explore practical ways to incorporate joy into our lives as part of God's divine plan. And, of course, let's not forget the enchanting power of Christmas to amplify joy not just in our lives but throughout the world. Get ready for a joy-filled experience that might just change the way you view God and happiness. Hit play and let the joy ride begin! #JoyfulJourney #ChristmasJoy #GodsGiftOfJoyURF WEBSITE: ➤ http://www.urfellowship.com
Today we're wrapping up our Church series with a bang! Join us as we dive into the dynamic world of serving others, exploring how Christians can unleash the power of the Holy Spirit to transform lives and communities.
Today we dive deep into the transformative power of Christian community! In this video, we explore why community matters in our Christian journey. Last week, we delved into worship, and today, it's all about sharing life and why Christian community is essential. Join us on this journey of discovery and growth!
Pastor Chris delves into the remarkable and heartwarming stories about Jesus and his unique way of connecting with people through shared meals. You'll discover how Jesus led with a message of belonging, how he always approached sinners, and how he loved those unlike him. This story reveals the transformative power of God's love and challenges us to reflect it in our own lives. Join us as we explore the depths of Jesus' inclusive love.
Discover the essence of joy, happiness, and the unexpected sides of Jesus, our ever-joyful savior. As we delve deep into the scriptures, stories, and even parties from the Bible, let's uncover the secrets of a joyful life together!
Dive into the heartwarming story of how Jesus, with humor and grace, reconnected with His disciples after His resurrection. From unexpected fishing tips to playful remarks, discover how the Savior extends kindness and redemption, especially to those in need of second chances.
A Message on Meals, Mission, and the Heart of JesusIn today's talk, we dive deep into understanding meals not just as a mundane daily ritual but as a window to our hearts and our vision of life. Drawing from Biblical passages, we explore the profound teachings of Jesus about meals and their spiritual significance.Are our meals merely about fulfilling hunger, or do they reflect the state of our hearts? Are they about status and exclusivity, or about love, inclusivity, and sharing God's grace? Jesus prompts us to understand meals as an expression of our faith, our love, and our mission. Do take a moment to like, share, and subscribe to our channel for more spiritual insights and teachings. And don't forget to comment below about how you plan to make your meals more meaningful and in alignment with Jesus's teachings. 🙏🍽️❤️#SpiritualMeals #Hospitality #JesusTeachings
The Gospels illustrate that if there's any strategy Jesus used for what some might call "evangelism," it's simple: open your home, share a meal, engage in genuine conversations, and most importantly, listen.
The New Testament introduces the beautiful concept of "hospitality," derived from the words that mean love and stranger. Practicing this art of turning strangers into family has profound implications. Rosaria Butterfield, a former critic of Christianity, attests to the transformative power of genuine hospitality. Remember: the Gospel comes with a house key.
Did you know that hospitality was instrumental in the rapid spread of the Gospel? From a modest gathering in Jerusalem to influencing half of the Empire – all without modern technology. It was the simple act of sharing and connecting over meals.
As we ponder on reclaiming this lost art of hospitality, we envision a world where this is central to our lives. Just as Jesus said he came to “seek and to save the lost,” we too can extend the hand of friendship and understanding, one meal at a time.
Despite the excuses we may find, whether it's a messy house, lack of cooking skills, or being an introvert, the heart of hospitality isn't about perfection. It's about connection. So, grab a seat at the table and let’s rediscover the transformative power of radically ordinary hospitality together. 🍽️🥖🍷🙏
Jesus #Gospel #Hospitality #Community #Connection
Join us as we dive into a new sermon series called "The Table." We're delving into how hospitality can be a means for God to grow His kingdom and bless our lives. Today, we start with a powerful story from Second Samuel chapter nine about David's act of kindness towards Mephibosheth, a descendant of Saul. This story underscores the theme of grace. As we explore the richness of meals in Scripture, we'll see how God's message is often communicated at the table Learn how a simple invitation to dine can mirror the salvation and grace of God, and discover the potential your table has, no matter how small or humble, to bless those around you. Join us in this journey, and let's embrace the power of grace and hospitality.
Pursuing Healthy Relationships #25 - Let Everything You Say Be Good And Helpful // Chris H.
Sermon Questions -
-
Accessing abundant wholeness is counter-cultural and our spiritual enemy will fight when you attempt to live in it. Define abundant wholeness - "Thriving in complete joy and living from abundance because of Jesus' love and work on the cross, opening the way for complete salvation, complete healing, and complete deliverance."
-
Review John 10:10 - Do you struggle with the idea of a full life? What are the pauses or arguments or issues that arise in your mind when we begin to discuss the definition of wholeness.
-
John Bevere stated that one way to remove us from wholeness is to take the enemy's bait of offense. Do you know if you are offended by any one or any thing right now? Have you asked the Holy Spirit about any offense in your life?
-
Give an example or remind yourself of a time where you or someone else moved in the opposite spirit - Instead of offense, choosing forgiveness. Instead of hate, choosing love. What does that look like?
-
Review Rom 12:2-9. Have you become a living sacrifice? How do you work on transforming your mind?
-
Do you blame God? Is there anything in you that harbors unforgiveness that you know you need to work on?
-
Review the statement! "I see you offense and I will not partner with you! I send you back to where you came from. I'm covered by the blood of Jesus, and I will choose to walk in forgiveness and love."
Sermon Questions -
-
Review 1 Kings 19 - It is the human condition to avoid sadness (We are afraid to be alone).
-
Review Push and Pull Phenomenon - There are forces inside and outside of us that conspire to work against our attempts at silence.
-
If God were asking you the same question he asked to Elijah (in the midst of his fear and exhaustion), how would you answer "What are you doing here?"
-
When it comes to practicing silence and solitude, do you find yourself running from distraction? And in what ways?
-
Review the process against distraction/frustrated: 1)Rest 2)Wait 3) Feeling 4) Naming
-
Discuss what was interesting or catching to in each process event
-
Discuss how the process as a whole creates transformation with God
Questions -
-
What is something that stood out to you or something that spoke to you during the sermon?
-
Read and review Jesus' prayer in the garden - John 17:1-20.
-
What is Jesus' "...so that"? What does the world gain when the church walks in unity?
-
Have we seen the church walk in unity at certain points in history? Where was that and what was the result?
-
What does unity really look like, practically? Or if you're really dreaming, what does BIG church unity look like to you?
-
Pray for the unity of the big-C church!
Sermon Questions -
-
What stood out to you/spoke the most to you in the sermon?
-
Have you asked hard questions of your faith by inviting people for discussion, reading, and praying to check if and how you've 'unbundled' your religion in some ways?
-
Living in a culture that is post-Christian, how do you feel or respond to Chris's comments about the idea of living in exile?
-
Review Jeremiah's requests to the people in exile -thrive, work hard, share, take part, grow families, pray, watch for false teachers/prophets, etc. In what part of the list are you thriving, helping others to thrive, or working towards?
-
Continue to check yourself - Chris mentioned that, naturally, people will move towards tribalism or towards the culture in times of pressure. Have you found yourself moving towards tribalism (circling the wagons) or just giving into culture's pull? Where are you and what do you need to move out of fear or apathy?
Sermon Questions -
* What stood out to you or spoke to you about this week's sermon?
* When Jesus says to come and drink from him, what does that really mean?
*Review John 4:10-14 where Jesus is at the well with the Samaritan woman. What is Jesus doing as he moves the conversation from 'come to me and drink' towards 'you have had 5 husbands'? What's the point of that for us?
* The sexual revolution has left us thirsty for real love. Share an experience where you've experienced that drinking from the world doesn't work or where you've experienced transformation through the Holy Spirit.
* How does your life change when you realize you have a responsibility because you represent Jesus (and a responsibility to do it the way he did it?)
Sermon Questions -
* What stood out to you or spoke to you most in the sermon?
*Genesis serves as a reminder to us that Christian spirituality is not about individualism. Whether you'd married of not, do you purposefully do life in a relational way? If you tend to lean more into individualism, how do you purposefully invite others into your life?
-
Chris discussed that we try to lower the high value and view of gender and sex in the bible. How does that actually connect to individualism? What do we do about this?
-
1 Cor. 6:12 Paul responds to the "Everything is permissible" with "not everything is beneficial" and finally saying, "I will not be mastered". Is it possible that 'not being mastered' has something to do with not being individualistic?
-
What are practical plans you have to be relational, anti-individualistic, and unmastered?
Sermon Questions for Discussion -
* Read and review Matt 22:36-38. Have you taken these verses really seriously? Have you viewed these commandments as true commandments (not optional) or as advice?
* Review the word agape (a love that is active and self-sacrificial). As Weslie spoke about the word used for love, agape, what went through your mind about the way you currently live? Do you actually live more like hindus and buddhists, who avoids doing people harm and tries to respect others or are you living to embrace God's call to active, self-sacrificial love?
*What stood out to you or spoke to you during Weslie's sermon?
- Are you aware if there are areas in you the devalues people/souls? Have you searched yourself and asked God if there are things in you that judge and condemn?
**Sermon Questions:
- Review - What has it meant to you as you've been discussing and thinking about imaging God?
* What idea or comment stood out to you in this sermon?
* Read/Review Matt 19:1-12. Discuss how differently Jesus sees people, marriage and the purpose of our lives versus how the American church and/or current society sees.
* What is expressive individualism and why does it hurt people rather than help them?
* Do you see yourself in any of the aspects of expressive individualism that Chris discussed? How do you work to fight that? (Review Galatians 5:24)
* Discuss how current culture views the body versus how Christianity views the body. Why is that important, especially right now in relation to society, genders, imaging, love versus lust, etc.?
Sermon Questions -
-
Often we find Jesus shattering molds and breaking up people's categories. When is the last time you let the holy spirit shake up your preconceived notions? How has that changed you?
-
If you'd like, you can read and review Matt. 3:13-17. Jesus is our perfect substitute. We can't save ourselves. In what ways have you admitted your helplessness? Has this been a difficult process?
-
If you'd like, you can read and review Matt. 4:3 & 6. Satan's tactics are the same, but they continue to work - downplay and doubt. Does the enemy use these to attack your thoughts? Chris asked specifically where your self-worth is found. Do you use scripture to help you fight deception?
Sermon Questions -
-
What is something that stood out to you or spoke to you in this sermon?
-
Review that comparison does two things: makes you feel superior or inferior. Neither honor God. Have you been looking for approval? Have you been feeling superior or inferior?
-
Who or what has been my reference point for whether I'm doing or being enough? Whose estimation do I believe and whose estimation should I believe?
-
Have you asked yourself who you would like to secretly see fail? Or if you are dissatisfied with a child or spouse? Review: Comparison is a profoundly spiritual issue. We are to get our cues from God, accepting his love and acceptance, and staying in his will.
-
How has your homework gone this week? Read Ecc. 4:6. Discuss this verse and what it means to you. (You can also read 2 Cor. 12:10 as well).
Sermon Questions -
-
What is something that stood out to you or something that really hit you from Chris's sermon?
-
Review the dilemmas that forgiveness solves: 1) rumination - I think it to death. 2) retribution - I plan justice for myself. 3) repression - I suppress my feelings.
-
Which dilemma do you usually fall into, how does it affect you, and how has forgiveness released you from that dilemma?
-
Read Matt. 5:21, Mark 11:25, Luke 17:3, 5. Talk about how much relationships matter to God. Are we becoming experts at forgiveness? How can the group help you become better at forgiving?
-
How did the HW go this week? Review Matthew 6:11-12. Are you working towards forgiveness with anyone? Are you holding bitterness towards anyone?
-
Pray with the group, encouraging them to work towards wholeness!
Sermon Questions -
-
What are some points or an idea that really stood out to you?
-
At some point, much of what we do in life becomes automatic, including our beliefs. Ha s there been a moment in your life where you realized you'd just accepted a belief and made it automatic and that belief was incorrect?
-
Along with debt, think about other cultural liturgies. The world tells us to consume. Is there a cultural liturgy you've accepted and has become, in a way, automatic or unconscious?
-
Scripture tells us to not store up stuff on earth, but to store up treasure in heaven. How do we do that? Along those lines, Chris also asked, "Does your love for God seep into your day?
-
Read Colossians 3:12, 14. How has your liturgy gone this week? Have used the image of clothing as a memory tool? What have you learned?
-
Remember - You train your heart to follow what you treasure.
-
What stood out to you or spoke to you about Chris's message?
-
In John 1:35-38, Jesus asks the two disciples what they want. It's the first thing that Jesus says in the gospel of John. Do you know what you want right now, as you're going to follow him? Answering this question is our starting place with Jesus.
-
Do you have a divided mind? In what areas do you feel pulled in different directions about the nature and character of God?
-
Why does the intellectualist model about living and faith not work?
-
How has your week of practicing liturgy gone? Read John 5:19-20 together and discuss how you've been praying and if God has shown you anything.
-
Reminder: Phil. 2:5 Tell us to have the same mindset of Christ. Instead of, "I think, therefore I am," we could say, "I love, therefore I am".
-
Pray that the Upper Room and the body of Christ as a whole have their eyes and ears opened and that we can move forward to do and say what the Father asks us to do and say!
Sermon Questions -
-
What part of Chris's sermon stood out to you, or what comment did he make that was an 'ahhhaaaa' moment?
-
Chris discussed that the emphasis of our lives should not only be learning, but should be applying. Has the holy spirit been asking you to change anything or do anything new or different lately? Are you actively trying to live with the holy spirit through your day?
-
Read John 5:16-23. Have you prayed about or thought about aspects of your life where the law trumps love or religion wins over relationship? Pray that you would continue to see the scriptures as a window to Jesus and not an end in themselves.
-
Read Eph 5:18. What does it look like to be filled with the holy spirit (in your life, personally)? How do you work to move God out of your sub-conscious into you conscious, day-to-day?
-
Read John 15:5. God desires that we grow and produce fruit organically. What does it look like when you try to substitute growth and instead grow mechanically?
-
What spoke to you directly or what did you feel impacted you in Beth's sermon?
-
Is there anything that you would like to do or change or begin practicing in your life in connection to women, mothers, and daughters?
-
The paradox of holding wonderful things that can also be very painful things in our lives can be experienced by all of us. Is there an area in your life where you're feeling that right now? How can the group pray for you?
-
The power of a healthy family in the world is phenomenal. Discuss the importance of good, solid families in communities - what they offer, how they show up, etc. Discuss the things you've learned or taken note of when observing great families - how do they act, what do they give or require of each other. What do you believe is a really important aspect of a healthy family?
-
Read Luke 11:1-13. Review what you need to work on or what really stood out to you as you were listening to Chris speak, whether it was about the knocking on the door, the good father portion, or the Lord's prayer.
-
What does your prayer life look like? Did Chris touch on anything that made you think about changing how you pray? Do you see yourself knocking on the door for someone else's needs with shameless audacity?
-
Discuss what an other-centered prayer life and faith life requires of a disciple of Jesus. (What do we have to give up? How does that look different from our culture?)
-
Read Phil 2:13 - Pray together that the Holy Spirit would affect your will in order to work for Him! Pray that we would be really aware of the nudges of the Holy Spirit throughout our day, practicing being very present and aware that He's with us ALL the time.
-
Review ACTS in prayer content ideas -
A - Adoration
C - Confession
T - Thanks
S - Supplication (Asking)
Sermon Questions -
-
What is the danger of seeing scripture as a painting and not a window with which to see the world? What did Chris mean when he said the bible isn't the endpoint?
-
Read 2 Timothy 3:14-17 together. Discuss how you've personally seen the power of scripture working hand in hand with community/people of faith/relationships. When is a moment where you've experienced the two working hand in hand?
-
Chris said, "Turn all of your conviction (after reading the scripture) into conduct." What's the danger the comes if we continue to read scripture but never act on it personally? What are you working on right now in the area of turning conviction into conduct?
-
Review how to use scripture in a relational fashion: Read it, clarify it, imagine it, pray it, meditate on it, discuss it, live it. How do you usually read the bible? Walk through a time in your life when scripture reading seemed dry and when reading seemed life-giving. Can you explain a difference?
-
How did Chris encourage you to look at scripture differently?
Sermon Questions -
-
When was the last time you were aware of God talking to you through another person, or talking to someone else through you?
-
Read Thess 5:12-22. Although quenching the Holy Spirit especially refers to the instruction immediately following the command (paying attention to God speaking through others), it would also include not following any of the instruction in these scriptures. What Spirit quenching attitude or activity in this passage is most commonly hard for you to avoid?
* The Holy Spirit is often likened to fire in the New Testament. See Matthew 3:11; Acts 2:3,2 Timothy 1:6 - Why is fire a fitting image for the Holy Spirit?
-
What are you actively doing to make yourself more independent from technology and working towards sustained attention and relationship skills (with the Holy Spirit and people)?
-
Do you see your role in the body of Christ, as necessary, having a job to do with and for other people? How have you been speaking into and encouraging others? If not, how will you work on that mindset change?
-
Do you see other people in the body of Christ, as others who can give insight to your life, encouragement to your life, help and direction? Who at church have you given this opportunity?
Sermon Questions -
-What is your personal reaction to/how do you process having a God who wants to be your Lord and friend versus a God who only wants to be your Lord?
-
Do you believe what Jesus said, that having the Holy Spirit around is better for us (John 16:7)? Do you live like the Holy Spirit is really alive and actively working in relationship with you?
-
When was the last time you experienced the Holy Spirit undeniably at work in your life?
-
Read John 14:16-26; 15:14-15, 26; 16:7-15.
A) What verse or idea stands out to you the
most? Why?
B) Make a list of everything you learn about the Holy Spirt from these passages. What qualities of the Holy Spirit are most important to remember as we move into a series about friendship with God? Why?
- The Holy Spirit in us wants to glorify Jesus. As we glorify Jesus, we are moving in step with God’s Spirit in us, and training ourselves to recognize the voice of the Spirit. What have you done or will commit to doing this week to help you glorify Christ in your mind and heart?
Questions -
* Have each person in group share their personal salvation story or how is was that they came to know Jesus.
-
Discuss what comment or part of the sermon stood out to each person. Did you learn something new? Did anything catch your attention?
-
This would be a really good opportunity to talk about the importance of being willing to share our faith with others. Has anyone in the group ever shared their faith with a friend? A stranger?
*Do we have a role in talking about Jesus to people around us? What does it look like?
Sermon Questions/Discussion -
-
If you’d like, you can review the main passage with the group - John 8:1-11.
-
Reminder - Sin will generally feel good at the moment, but will always carry consequences. It will work to kill you and your soul. It will attempt to put out your light.
-
Reminder - The story in John is a focus not in the adulteress woman, but in the men who respond to her sin with hate and spite, despite their own sin.
-
Like the men who are ready to stone the woman for what she’s done and who she’s hurt, Chris asked us if we’ve ever seen ourselves like these people. Have you ever had a stone in your hand (obviously, this is a metaphor)?
-
If you’re comfortable to share, discuss the situation where you’ve thrown the stone and what you’ve learned from that situation. Did God teach you anything in that?
-
In Jesus’ writing in the dust, we are confronted by our personal blind spots - our focusing on others’ sin more deeply and spitefully than focusing and dealing with our own. At this point in your life, have you confronted the blind spots you’re aware of? How are you confronted with those?
-
On the flip side, do you tend to be a person who throws stones at yourself? Did you see the respect and tenderness in which Jesus treats the adultress? Do you need to show yourself some of the same response?
-
Chris talked about the fact that we are and have been damaged. However, God is a God of do-overs. In Jesus’ statement, "Go and sin no more", we see his approval to move on. Are you able to see yourself moving on in the situatione/attitude where you want to throw stones or in the situation where there’s sin in your life?
-
Pray for the ability to move on and/or to let go.
Sermon Questions -
-
Read John 1:3 - What should we assume about everything that lives? Do you see things in your everyday life this way?
-
Did you try the 54321 grounding technique? Did it help you to focus in? What did you see?
-
Did you try to be a rock hound for Jesus this week? How'd it go?!
-
Weslie said, "When I realized there were things in my life that I wasn't responding to correctly, I told myself, 'You don't have to stay that way'." How does training our eyes to see beauty change us internally? How does it change our minds and the way we live?
-
Read Psalm 8:3-6. Do you live out your day to day with the thoughts that God really likes you and prizes you really highly?
-
Does that mindset change the way you live and believe?
Sermon Questions -
-
Hey! Just a reminder - You'll never feel ready for the most daunting parts of your life. But that's ok. Jesus is ready.
-
Read and review Matt. 28:16-20. Jesus is commissioning people who aren't ready to go. People who are disappointed. People who are doubting.
-
What do you think Jesus is trying to say about the idea that He left the world with 11 disciples instead of 12? That he left with a quantity and quality problem? (Risk, challenges and resistance)
-
Why does God like and use risk, challenges, and resistance? (Connect to Matt 28)
-
You feeling ready for something is not an indicator that God is necessarily interested in. How do you personally respond to knowing this?
-
Discuss an experience in your life or an example in the Bible where you or someone weren't ready but were called by God to do something.
Reminders -
- Chris said he has never seen a life of obedience built on real-time self-excused disobedience. We often say, "Not yet" or excuse ourselves because we have good intentions. But this is still disobedience and definitely not maturity.
Sermon Questions -
-
Review Ephesians 4:14-16 - Read together and discuss your view of Christian maturity. What does that look like in light of 'blind spots'?
-
Chris mentioned that oftentimes groups will collude to avoid blind spots and in turn will keep themselves from growth. Chris connected that it's sometimes caused by 'terminal niceness'. What is the result of 'terminal niceness'? What are some other reasons groups might not address blind spots?
*In order for people and places to be safe, in order to remove collusion and to keep from not addressing blind spots, what kind of people do we need to be? Discuss what safe people and places look like.
-
Nice and kind are not the same. What are the true differences between the two?
-
What is the importance of vulnerability and communication in the discussion of 'nice' versus 'kind'?
-
Chris reminded us that we have to invite or have an invitation when we're discussing blind spots. In light of that, he left us with two questions:
1) How are you at the telling the truth when it's asked to be told? (truth and love!)
2) How are you at receiving the truth?
Sermon Questions/Thoughts -
-
Read 1 Kings 20:39-42. This is your wakeup call! - Discuss your first reaction to hearing the prophet and king story and its connection to you.
-
Chris said, "You are the person you're supposed to be watching. You are the most suited to deceit, you are the one who's most able to hurt yourself. Your life is snatched when you're not paying attention." - What do you need to do to pay attention? What do you need to stop in order to pay attention?
-
Read Prov 4:23, Jude 1:21, Jer 17:9 - Discuss what you can do to keep from deceit or tricking yourself. "Paying attention" isn't enough - we need concrete answers for issues that keep us from our future self.
-
Remind everyone of the Two Things To Guard:
1) Giving In (distractions and lies) and 2) Giving Up (difficulty and struggle)
-
What are common distractions you have in your life? Are there areas of struggle that you've just given up on? Can you go back to those places of distraction and struggle and make new or different plans?
-
Read Ps. 81:16 - God wants to bring goodness in the midst of the difficult stuff! He will pull honey from the rock!
-
Review - Change can be seen one of two ways: 1) A threat, 2) an opportunity
-
A threat is seen as something we must survive
-
An opportunity is seen as something that is possible
-
Review - You cannot dream in survival (or threat) mode.
-
In the midst of areas of upheaval and change in 2020/21, right now, how are you viewing and feeling about change?
-
What areas of your life feel most 'threatened' and what areas feel like you are able to see opportunities and dream?
-
Read Isaiah 43:14-19
-
Where have you seen God's faithfulness in the past? Are you able to trust that he will be faithful in the future?
-
Is there anything you need to grieve/consider/work through in order to see and accept that God wants to do a new thing? Are you looking back longingly? What can you do to be able to move forward? (if none, consider/discuss tools/help!)
-
Read Luke 5:36-39 // Review 4 points - 1) You can't get new along with the old 2) Looking back longingly reduces God's ability to do new things 3) Don't limit God and the ways he can work 4) Expect God to do things that will stretch your faith
Get-To-Know-You Question - * Who has been your most interesting/confusing/annoying neighbor? Sermon Questions - * God uses human relationships to grow our faith. However, because it is a principle, it also works in the other direction - human relationships can also undermine our faith. Give an example of how you’ve seen this in someone else or have lived this yourself. * Why do you believe that God designed so much of our lives to hinge on relationships with other people? * Give some biblical examples of what God expects community and relationships to look like. What do people in a church community look like? What do they do? How do they act? * Discuss and review some of the modern reasons we have for relational poverty (increased mobility, modern conveniences, rise of social media, etc.) What are a few things we can actively and practically do to reverse relational poverty in our lives? * Chris left us with the question, "Are we available to others?" Do you feel, at this point in time, you’ve made yourself available to other people? Are you present and accessible?
Get To Know You Questions - * What kind of challenge are you facing this week? (Beneficial to pray about later or to incorporate in discussion about faith if you have time!) Sermon Questions - * What were your some of your initial thoughts during/after the sermon? Where are your faith levels right now? * Discuss why the best thing that can happen to any relationship is trust building. * What do you think God is doing or using in your life right now to grow faith in you? * The enemy’s plan has always been to distort how we see God, to break trust, create distance, and build self-reliance in us. What is one thing that you’ve experienced or thought that did just that? How were you able to realize it and turn it around? * What is an area of your life that you know you need to work on in the area of trust with God so that you can have a stronger relationship with Him?
Getting to Know You Question 1. What food do you love that people may think is a little odd? Sermon Questions for Discussion 2. In the garden, the first sin wasn’t the temptation to not eat food, but the temptation to not believe that God has our good in mind. Trusting God is an issue that scripture talks a LOT about. Give a short testimony or recall a biblical example of a time that God worked for your good and proved himself trustworthy. 3. Discuss Paul’s idea that freedom is not the ability to do anything you want. Instead, doing whatever you want is actually slavery. Possibly explain what Paul is saying by using examples in life or scriptural examples. Discuss what true biblical freedom looks like. 4. With the freedom that Paul discusses in Galatians in mind, why do you think God ask us to fast? 5. If you’ve fasted in the past, talk about your experience - the good, the bad, the frustrating, the reward, how God met you, etc.
The Original 18 Benedictions of the Israelites 1. God of HistoryO Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise. Blessed art thou, O lord God of our fathers, God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, the great mighty and revered God, the most high God, who bestows loving kindness, and the Master of all things; who remembers the pious deeds of the patriarchs, and in love will bring a redeemer to their children's children for your Name's sake. 2. God of NatureO King, Helper, Savior and Shield. Blessed art thou, O Lord, the Shield of Abraham. You, O Lord, are mighty for ever, you revive the dead, You are mighty to save. You cause the wind to blow and the rain to fall. You sustain the living with loving kindness, revive the dead with great mercy, support the falling, heal the sick, free the bound, and keep Your faith to them that sleep in the dust. who is like You, Lord of the mighty acts, and who resembles You, O King, who orders death and restores life, and causes salvation to spring forth? 3. God who sanctifies.We will sanctify Your Name in the world even as they sanctify it in the highest heavens, as it is written by the hand of Your prophet: Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of Hosts: The whole earth is full of His glory. Blessed be the glory of the Lord from His place. And in Your Holy Words it is written, saying The Lord shall reign for ever, Your God O Zion, unto all generations. Praise Ye the Lord. Unto all generations we will declare Your greatness, and to all eternity we will proclaim Your holiness, and Your praise, O our God, shall not depart from our mouth for ever, for Your are a great and holy God and King. Blessed art thou, O Lord the holy God. 4. Prayer for understanding.You favor man with knowledge, and teach mortals understanding. Favor us with knowledge, understanding and discernment from You. Blessed art thou, O Lord, gracious Giver of knowledge. 5. Prayer for repentanceCause us to return, our Father, unto Your Torah; draw us near, our King, unto Your service, and bring us back in perfect repentance unto Your presence. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who delights in repentance. 6. Prayer for forgivenessForgive us, our Father, for we have sinned; pardon us, our King, for we have transgressed; for You do pardon and forgive. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who is gracious, and does abundantly forgive. 7. Prayer for deliverance from afflictionLook upon our affliction and plead our cause, and redeem us speedily for Your name's sake; for You are a mighty Redeemer. Blessed art thou, O Lord, the Redeemer of Israel. Turn not to our wickedness; conceal not your face from us, and hide not Yourself from our supplication. Be near, we beseech You, unto our cry; let Your loving kindness be a comfort to us; even before we call unto You answer us, according as it is said, And it shall come to pass that, before they call, I will answer; while they are yet speaking, I will hear; for You, O Lord, are He who answers in time of trouble, who delivers and rescues in all times of trouble and distress; the holy King." 8. Prayer for HealingHeal us, O Lord, and we shall be healed; save us and we shall be saved; for You are our praise. Grant a perfect healing to all our wounds; for You, almighty King, are a faithful and merciful Physician. Blessed art thou O Lord, who heals the sick of Your people Israel. 9. Prayer for Deliverance from wantBless this year unto us, O Lord our God, together with every kind of the produce, for our welfare; give a blessing upon the face of the earth. O satisfy us with your goodness, and bless our year like other good years. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who blesses the years. 10. Prayer for reunion of IsraelSound the great horn for our freedom; raise the ensign to gather our exiles, and gather us from the four corners of the earth. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who gathers the dispersed of Your people Israel. 11. Prayer for the righteous reign of GodRestore our judges as in former times, and our counselors as at
We speak boldly about what we believe. How have you seen your speech reflect what you believe? What bold words do you need to start speaking to yourself starting today? Who do you know that needs to hear bold words of encouragement from you this week? How will you go about speaking boldly to them? Who do you know that needs to know Christ? What bold words can you speak that will lead them towards Christ?
What’s one of the most miraculous things you’ve ever seen or heard about? How would you describe the way you typically pray? In what ways do your prayers reflect what you believe about God? When was the last time you were amazed by the power of prayer? How did that experience affect your relationship with God? What bold prayers do you need to start praying today?
Where are some areas, outside of finances, where you can be generous with your life? Where is a place or area this week where you can leave "your land" to bless others? In a world where many people want to "call down fire" on anyone who doesn't see eye to eye with them, in what ways can we/you be a counter culture?
We can know God’s voice because it “calls us out of hiding.” How does this thought impact you? How will you apply the Japanese concept of kintsugi to your wounds, both past and present? How can your wound become your story through which you introduce others to the healing power of Jesus?
Sermon Questions: Do you think that in obtaining a blessing from God Jacob forced God to do something He never intended to do? Identify the areas that you have spiritually wrestled with God. What has been the outcome to those times? How can you apply the story of Jacob wrestling with God to your life?