Missio Dei: Phoenix: Recent Episodes
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As Jesus calls us to follow him and his Kingdom, we see there are clear rhythms and practices his disciples live out. These are not how one becomes a disciple or how a disciple proves belonging to the Kingdom, but rather an outpouring of being with and like Jesus.
We use the acronym B.L.E.S.S. (Bless, Listen, Eat, Speak, Sabbath) to encourage one another to engage in the rhythms and practices of Kingdom living. This first week we examined how we have been blessed to be a blessing to others.
This Sunday we shared a meal together while we looked at the parable of the hidden treasure Jesus told in Matthew 13. Plus, we commissioned our MC’s and sent one another out as ambassadors of Jesus and his Kingdom.
Note: Since we did not keep the recording of praying over each of our MC’s and hearing the stories of what God is doing in them, the audio for this may seem like it jumps around a bit.
Jesus said the Kingdom of God is like a little yeast in a lot of dough, or a mustard seed growing into a large tree for birds to nest in. Hyperbole? Maybe. But the point seems to be that God’s Kingdom is surprising and beautiful nourishing life can grow out of unexpected places — and that growth is for the sake of others.
Weeds wreak havoc on a yard. But poisonous plants disguised as food are a problem on another level. Jesus told a story about how the Kingdom of God is growing in the midst of another kingdom, and which one will remain at the end.
Jesus gave a lot of pictures of what the Kingdom of God is like, or will be like when it comes in full. One of those images was a story of a master who entrusted his servants with different amounts of money while he went away. What they did with it exposed something about their trust and partnership with the master’s work, but even more, Jesus’ story exposes something about the multiplying nature of God’s Kingdom.
While Jesus was tired and grieving, he had compassion on the crowd. Not only did this compassion lead him to speak good news to them, but his compassion led to feeding and nourishing their bodies as well as their souls. But Jesus chose to do this in a powerful way, by inviting the people into the miracle. The food came from among the crowd, the act of service and distribution from the disciples, and the power from God.
What does the Son of David have to do with the blind? What does his healing mean to the world? Explore these questions with us this week as we look at the healing of the two blind men in Matthew 20.
In Matthew 14 we look at an iconic scene where Jesus walks on water to meet his disciples as they rowed across the sea in a storm. How could he defy physics in such a way? Jesus was displaying the full power of the Creator, in the flesh of a man. And what’s perhaps even crazier is that he invites a regular human to come and follow him out there.
In Matthew 9 we get a highlight reel of Jesus performing miracles, and the faith of the people who come to him for it. The people recorded are diverse and come from different places in society, but one thing they have in common is they have a great need and they recognize Jesus as the one who can meet it.
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!”
This was the welcome Jesus received as he entered into Jerusalem in Matthew 21 — a quote directly from Psalm 118. But did the crowd really understand what they were saying? Do we? What kind of king are you looking for to come and rescue?
Jesus quoted Psalm 110 to the Pharisees and religious leaders to challenge their idea of who the Son of David, the rescuing King they were awaiting, would be. Their misconceptions of what the Messiah would look like and what he would come to do had caused them to miss what God was doing in their very midst.
Psalm 22 is relived in Matthew 27 as Jesus is betrayed, handed over to the authorities, and cries out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
This week we explored this passage and its’ significance in what Jesus was accomplishing for all of creation.
In the month of July we took a break (sort of) from our journey through the book of Matthew to look at some of the Psalms mentioned in Matthew. Psalm 2 is a coronation song for a true and better king.
From Jesus' first model of prayer to his final recorded prayer alone with his Father, we see the heart of the kingdom continue even to the very end. Jesus lives out the prayer "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done" and "Not my will, but Yours" as he faces his final moments on earth. And he invites his friends to join him.
When Jesus taught his followers how to pray, he included how essential forgiveness is. If you withhold forgiveness of another, you do not experience the forgiveness of the Father. What does this mean? What order does this happen in? How can we experience true forgiveness in a way where we both receive and give it?
This week we had a guest speaker, Jerome Parker, one of the pastors of First Christian Church in Phoenix. Jerome took us through the passage of Matthew 19:16-30, where Jesus confronts the identity, possessions, and power that keep us from following him.
Jesus didn’t market to people or invite them in with empty promises, good vibes, and exciting experiences. In fact, when people said they wanted to follow him he responded with how difficult it would be. And when he displayed his power and authority, people wanted even less to do with him. And yet, if they were willing to lay down their control and comforts in life, they found that Jesus’ power and authority brought the wholeness of life they had truly been searching for.
Jesus not only called people to follow him as disciples, but he also sent them out to bring good news to others. This was a group of people who would otherwise not have much to do with one another, if it weren’t for Jesus. It was also a group of people who would otherwise not have much authority or presence in the places they went. But with Jesus, they were formed into a community and sent with the power and authority of Jesus, for the sake of others.
Jesus called out to a couple fishermen to drop their nets and follow him. Their nets were their livelihood. Their security. Their way of life. Are we willing to drop our nets and follow after Jesus into every area of life he may be calling us?
For Easter Sunday 2024 we gathered together with two other congregations to share in the joy and celebration of the newness of life, only because of the resurrection of Jesus. The tomb is empty. He is risen. He is risen indeed.
What is your life built upon? What is at the foundation of all you do and how you view the world? Can it withstand the storms and waves that life will inevitably throw at it?
Jesus offers an invitation to come and build your life on a solid foundation that can weather any storm.
You've got something in your eye.
Pointing the finger at another's fault or shortcoming comes naturally to us. It was the first response of the first man and woman when God approached them in the garden after their rebellion. 'It was the woman'. 'No, it was the serpent'. Jesus has some wisdom for us when it comes to pointing fingers.
You’ve heard the phrase “Love your neighbor”, but was Jesus really serious when he said we are to love our enemies? This countercultural and counterintuitive way of Jesus is not only exemplified in his life and death, but it is also an expectation on those who would call themselves his followers. But how can we do this?
Each week over the next two months we’ll journey through one of the beatitudes in Matthew 5. Take time to move slowly through the rhythms of reflection.
Read. Listen. Reflect.
This week we focus on Matthew 5:7, “Blessed are the merciful…”
Find the full guide here: missiodeicommunities.com/beatitudes
Ever broken a promise? Ever had someone break a promise to you? Jesus seemed to think this was a pretty big deal. But why did it matter enough to put up there alongside murder, sex, and the tearing apart of households? Could it really be that any time we are not true to our word that is ‘from the evil one’? How can we even have hope of being more honest, reliable, and faithful with our words?
Each week over the next two months we’ll journey through one of the beatitudes in Matthew 5. Take time to move slowly through the rhythms of reflection.
Read. Listen. Reflect.
This week we focus on Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness…”
Find the full guide here: missiodeicommunities.com/beatitudes
Murder. Sex. Adultery. Divorce. Jesus wasn’t afraid to talk about the heavy stuff.
But where the religious leaders thought they had these things all figured out, Jesus seemingly takes it a step further and makes it even harder to be right with the Law. When it came to obeying the Law, Jesus seemed to agree with what they all should’ve already seen through the Old Testament Scriptures, God looks at the heart.
Each week over the next two months we’ll journey through one of the beatitudes in Matthew 5. Take time to move slowly through the rhythms of reflection.
Read. Listen. Reflect.
This week we focus on Matthew 5:5, “Blessed are the humble…”
Find the full guide here: missiodeicommunities.com/beatitudes
Jesus said he had come not to abolish the Law and the Prophets, but to fulfill it. But what exactly does that mean? Has he fulfilled it? And if so, how? And what exactly would his listeners have interpreted as 'the Law and the Prophets' to mean?
Each week over the next two months we’ll journey through one of the beatitudes in Matthew 5. Take time to move slowly through the rhythms of reflection.
Read. Listen. Reflect.
This week we focus on Matthew 5:4, “Blessed are those who mourn…”
Find the full guide here: missiodeicommunities.com/beatitudes
What does it mean for Jesus to call us the salt of the earth and light of the world? How do we reconcile this with Jesus also claiming that he is the Light of the world?
Jesus began his sermon on the mount with the words, “Blessed are…”
He went on to make several outrageous claims as to who is blessed. What does it mean to be blessed and how can we make the list of people who are? Is this a checklist to attain? We explore the beginning of the famous Sermon on the Mount by examining the good life Jesus came to offer those in need.
Each Wednesday over the next two months we’ll journey through one of the beatitudes in Matthew 5. Take time to move slowly through the rhythms of reflection.
Read. Listen. Reflect.
This first week we focus on Matthew 5:3, “Blessed are the poor in spirit…”
Find the full guide here: missiodeicommunities.com/beatitudes
Jesus said those who become like children get to enter the Kingdom of God. Why are children so important? What does it mean to become like them? What can we learn from the nature of children, but perhaps more importantly, the social status of children in Jesus’ time?
Jesus’ first message was that of John, the baptizer: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” What did Jesus mean by this? Who was this message for? How was Jesus bringing the kingdom into the broken world?
Jesus, the fullness of the God of the universe, fully immersed himself into the identity and life of humanity — so that humans could have the possibility of being fully immersed into the identity of being children of God. It is his immersion into our world and his invitation for us to be immersed into his identity that we find true life, fulfillment, fullness, and restoration of who we were meant to be.
John was a voice in the wilderness crying out and calling people out of the kingdom of the world and into a new kingdom. He was sent to prepare people to turn away from one way of living and turn toward the ways of Jesus and his kingdom. That invitation is still being called out today.
When Jesus arrives, the God of the universe become human, he is met with poverty, wandering, oppression, violence, rejection, and suffering. This Christmas season we recognize that not all is as it should be, yet we have much to celebrate because we have a God who has come to be in it with us. And this baby Jesus, grew into a man who loved, served, and healed — and ultimately gave his life over to death so that he could conquer it with resurrection. This is the greatest gift we have been given.
What made a group of magi travel far from the east to come and pay respect to a newborn king of the Jews? How were they able to find him? And once they got there and found the current king wanted him dead, what led them to believe this baby born to a poor family in a little town was actually who they thought he was?
The story of the wise men is full of mystery... and may make you rethink how you set up your nativity figures on the fireplace mantle.
We started our series in Matthew during the season of Advent. The first week we looked at the genealogy of Jesus. Family trees and ancestral lineage doesn't always sound like the most interesting of topics, however, Matthew was revealing many very significant truths about who this Jesus was. Join us as we see the promised Rescuer God's people had been waiting for centuries to come.
Wrapping up our series in Hebrews, we come to chapter 13. This seems like possibly the author getting out his final thoughts and recommendations for living righteous before he seals his letter, but it’s so much more connected to the rest of the book than that. He has spent 12 chapters making the case how Jesus is better than all else and is the fulfillment of all they had been hoping for. In chapter 12 he referenced Mount Sinai, where God gave the Law AFTER rescuing them from slavery. Now that they’ve come to a new kind of mountain, Mount Zion figuratively, he is reminding them of how they can live now that Jesus has set them free.
Mountaintops were seen in the ancient near eastern world as places where humans could climb to meet the divine; heaven and earth could touch. In the Old Testament we have a story of Israelites trembling with fear before Mount Sinai because the glory of God came down with fire, clouds, thunder, and lightning. Hebrews 12 tells us we have not come to that kind of mountain, but Mount Zion where we celebrate with an army of spiritual beings as we delight in God. So — what changed? Why can we now approach this mountaintop?
A loving father disciplines his children. For some, we may have this experience to relate to. For others, we hear that word and flinch. We think of cruel punishment. No matter your experience with a human father, we have one who is far better and His discipline is perfect. It is not angry punishment, but corrective guiding leading us to the path of life and goodness.
Chapter 11 of Hebrews is perhaps one of the more well known chapters in the whole bible. Often referred to as the ‘Hall of Faith’, it lists off a number of people from Israel’s history who “by faith” lived a certain way. If we take a deeper look at each of their lives we will also find a lot of failures and acts of disobedience. Yet, there is one who showed an even better faith — the pioneer and perfecter of our faith — who has given us the gift of a better faith to live by now.
This world offers many ways to live, but really there are two: find what seems right or feels good to you, or live by faith in Jesus. One way leads to life, the other to destruction. One way is fulfilling and brings ultimate joy and satisfaction, the other brings chaos and sorrow.
When we say Jesus is better, we don’t mean he is subjectively a slightly better option, though any option is fine. We mean he is the only option if you want to experience life and life to the full.
What's the difference between delight and desire? Both are often talked about in the biblical narrative and seem to be key to the story. When delight and desire are misdirected and misplaced, destruction and even death can result. But when we desire what is good and delight in what we already have access to, this leads to flourishing. How can we rightly align our desires and delight? Only through first seeing God desires to be with us and delights over his people!
The sight of blood is alarming. It signals that something is wrong, because blood belongs in the body. Life is in the blood. But for the ancient Israelite culture, blood also signified something else: cleansing. The thought of blood being used to clean anything now is more than strange to us, but there was a cultural and spiritual significance to it for the Israelites. As we seek to understand why, we may begin to understand even more what the blood of Jesus has done for us.
A covenant is the deepest form of promise between two people, intertwining them together. Hebrews 8 shows us that Jesus has brought a new and better covenant, one that fulfills and completes where the old one fell short. The old covenant was good in that it pointed us toward the coming of the new covenant, but only by the new covenant can we completely enter into God’s presence. This new covenant has been made available to us by the sacrifice of Jesus, our high priest.
Melchizedek is a mysterious character who only has a couple short sentences written of him in the Old Testament, but the author of Hebrews keeps bringing him up and seems to think he has a great deal to do with Jesus. Who is this guy? What is the connection to Jesus?
As we explore chapter 7 of Hebrews, we see that God has been giving us a preview of what would come fully in Jesus all throughout history and that Jesus is the fullness of everything we need.
Storms come in life. That is a certainty. When you hold onto an anchor, you will still feel the push and pull of the waves from the storm, but you will also be held secure where you are supposed to be. Our culture and even religion offer many anchors that end up not really being planted securely into a firm foundation. There is only one anchor for your soul that will truly hold you securely and he is Jesus.
John Looney, one of our missio community leaders, covers Hebrews 5:11-6:12. Immaturity in the Gospel can lead to falling away, turning to our own works as a means of salvation. But the true way to life is only found in the work of Jesus. Persevering in Christ is our assurance of salvation.
God rescued Israel from the Egyptians, but He also made a way to rescue them from their own wickedness and rebellion. He allowed them to make sacrifices and draw near to His temple through ceremonial cleansing. God allowed these things to be mediated through people with a specific role, called priests. However, these priests also had their own sin and faced their own mortality as well. Jesus has now come as our better high priest, making full sacrifice once and for all and mediating eternally on our behalf so we can draw near to God.
When God rescued His people out of slavery to Egypt, He called them to follow Him through the wilderness into a land He promised them — a land of rest. Many did not believe God’s promise and because of that, they failed to enter into His rest. Yet, God is inviting us into a deeper and fuller rest now through His Son, Jesus. May we listen. May we not harden our hearts as the Israelites did in the wilderness, but follow God’s invitation into His good rest.
God was building a nation and a people through Israel, and he used His servant Moses to start the work. But the true Builder was not Moses. Jesus has come to finish the work of building a people and a kingdom. He is the better builder who is the foundation and completion of what God is establishing.
Jesus is not only the better message, but has come in the flesh as the better human. He fully inhabits humanity and lives out what we were meant for and created to be. But he not only shows us how to be human — he also made a way for us to become more fully human through the power of his Spirit.
In the past, God spoke to His creation through various methods and messengers. But now He has spoken fully through His own Son, Jesus. Jesus is not only the better messenger, but the message of God himself, come to us in the flesh fully revealing who God is and what He is up to in His world. Are you listening to His message?
A Psalm. A Song for the Sabbath Day.
This is the only psalm of 150 that is directly meant to be sung on the sabbath day. And yet, nowhere in the psalm does it give a command to rest, nor is the word rest even mentioned. What we do see in this psalm is a reminder of the works God has already accomplished. It is out of God’s work that we find rest, not our own. This psalm is an invitation to look to the works of God and rest in Him.
God gives a promise through Haggai to Zerubbabel: the other nations’ kingdoms will be destroyed one day and God’s kingdom will reign, and Zerubbabel will be the sign of this coming kingdom shaking the heavens and earth.
But we know historically that Zerubbabel never sat on the throne crowned as king. He died. And Israel remained under the power of other nations long after he passed. What message was God giving to his people? What could this prophetic word be pointing us to? And what does it look like for us to live in that promised kingdom now?
God is very clear about how unclean hands defile and the Israelites were not consecrated to build the temple. And yet, He promises to bless their work and their land anyway. What must take place in order for them to be made clean and set apart for this work? How can what is defiled be made pure?
God’s people were disheartened by how the new temple was shaping up compared to the splendor of the former temple Solomon had built. God spoke through Haggai to encourage them and remind them that this temple did not require fine silver and gold to be glorious, and if it did, He could surely provide it! But God’s own glory would come and fill that place and His presence would make it more glorious than the first. The second temple would later be visited by Jesus himself. The second temple would also eventually crumble, but the temple of Jesus’ body, where the fullness of God’s glory was present, rose again and remains forever!
God’s people were supposed to rebuild the temple once they were released from Babylon. But they got caught up building extravagant homes for themselves. Of course, God didn’t need a home built from human hands, but the temple was about God’s presence and glory being near His people. What are you building? Are you building up a life that is far or near from God’s glory and presence?
An invitation to pray, as our King Jesus modeled for us to pray. These are not just ritual words spoken but a posture which transforms us and unites us with the kingdom work of Jesus.
What does it mean to pray, “Your Kingdom come”? What is it we are actually asking for to take place on earth, as it is in heaven? What was Jesus proclaiming as he announced the Kingdom of God was at hand and in our midst? In this message we explore seven realities we see about the Kingdom Jesus brought with him and what it means to live in those realities.
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The Kingdom has a King.
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The Kingdom has a way.
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The Kingdom has a physical place.
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The Kingdom has a united people.
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The Kingdom has a diverse people.
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The Kingdom has a movement.
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The Kingdom will be victorious.
Jesus was placed in a tomb that happened to be in a garden. When Mary shows up and finds the tomb empty, she mistakes the risen Jesus for the gardener. She was not so far off. Jesus' resurrection invites us to turn away from the grave and turn back toward the garden that was lost at the beginning.
Jesus’ final week of his life on earth was marked by a triumphal entry into Jerusalem, met with praises and shouts of salvation. Yet, Jesus’ humble entry was doing more for humanity than those in the crowd could ever imagine. Jesus’ entry reveals him as the true prophet, priest, and king that we need — and that we were meant to be. These three roles Jesus fills help show us what it is to be fully human once again, in Jesus’ power.
In a crazy, and somewhat spooky vision, God shows Ezekiel that He is still at work in spite of Israel’s failures. He will be restoring Israel to what they were meant to be. And yet, this vision has a double meaning — one that is more applicable for us today. God is not only reviving Israel, but He is in fact restoring life to our dry bones. As we continue through Lent we see the promise of resurrection given long ago.
The people of God wanted a king. Not the King they had -- the one who rescued them out of slavery from Egypt, the one who brought them safely through the sea and the wilderness, the one who time and time again protected them from their enemies and brought them into a good land he promised to them. No, they wanted a human king to be like all the other nations. The person they saw fit to be king was much different than what God saw they needed, and eventually, God would show them how to look for the true king. What is it we're looking for?
As we continue our journey through Lent, we find the Israelites in their journey through the wilderness without water. God provides miraculously, but as we look closer we see God is at work in so many more ways than we can even fathom. Most importantly, God is present with them in the wilderness. This is still true for us in the wilderness places of our lives -- God is at work and He is with us.
God did not give up on His plan and purpose for humans to be His representatives on earth. He called Abram, gave him a new name, identity, and purpose, and blessed him. This blessing continues through for God's people who are in Jesus today.
We begin our Lent journey toward joy at the beginning.
The first humans were placed in a garden called ‘Delight’ and it lived up to its’ name. Yet, they were deceived into seeing and desiring something else. That desire set in and gave birth to sin (rebellion), which ultimately resulted in death. How can we fix our eyes on the delight we have in Jesus and ultimately find life?
The heartbeat of Paul's letter to Titus and the Christians in Crete is found here inn this final chapter. We have been saved by Jesus' work, not by works or righteousness of our own. Now, how do we live in the work of God and partner with Him?
What does it look like to live as followers of Jesus in a culture that is so counter to that? Titus 2 has a couple things that may be difficult to swallow in our culture, but when we understand the culture it was written to and the heart behind living as a display people of God, we may gain a better understanding of how we live counter-culturally today.
In the midst of a corrupt culture, how do we live faithfully as people of good news to the world around us?
As the Church, we are called to not only form tight-knit communities being formed in discipleship together, but to extend that as we make disciples of all nations. How are we moving beyond the boundaries typically drawn by society, culture, and even our own prejudices in order to bring the good news of Jesus to all the people it is meant for?
How can the Church reflect the image of Christ by being an embodied and locally-rooted presence, having an intentionality in the place God has us?
Our practices and rhythms shape and form who we are. What are the intentional habits you have put into practice to allow yourself to be transformed into the image of Jesus? How are you engaging in life-forming patterns and practices with your community in order to be formed together?
What does it look like to be a tight-knit community, united in Jesus, in the midst of the individualism and tribalism of our culture?
Our Christmas Eve service. Jesus is the light of the world and that light has entered into the darkness. May we see him and see life more clearly through him.
Love is not a dopamine high, but the continual keeping of covenant commitment.
intentional. relational. sacrificial. missional.
*Edit: where Chris cites marriage & divorce in Exodus it is actually chapter 21:10-11, not chapter 34.
Joy is not fleeting happiness, but a steady source of satisfaction rooted in an eternal outcome - not a temporary circumstance.
Hope is not just wishful thinking, but a confident assurance in what God will do based on what He has already done. We have a hope that will get us through anything this world throws at us because Jesus has come, and he is coming again.
This first week of Advent we look at how Jesus brings peace to the world. Peace is not merely quiet, calm, nor inner tranquility. It is all things working together as they should, so that the world flourishes. It is wholeness. It is Shalom. Jesus rights all wrongs, brings justice and healing, and invites us to experience true peace.
The book of Acts comes to an anti-climactic end in chapter 28. We never hear about Paul standing before Caesar. There is little conflict from the Jewish leaders there. We never hear whether he made it to Spain afterward. It ends with him living in his own rented home for two years, continuing to share the Good News. The Story does not end here, because the Story is not over. It continues with you and I.
In a sense, Acts ends as it started. It was a continuation of all Jesus began to do through the Spirit — which he now continues through His Spirit at work in his followers.
One of our Missio Community leaders, John Looney, preaches on Acts 27. Paul, on his way to Rome, along with many other prisoners, guards, and crew members, face a violent storm and end up shipwrecked on the island of Malta. How do we see God still at work even in what seems to be chaotic and uncertain moments like this?
Paul didn't exactly get the warmest welcome in Jerusalem. The very people he used to be one with turn against him and vow to kill him. He appeals to Caesar, his right as a Roman citizen, which sends him on a long and tumultuous journey leaving him shipwrecked. And yet, this is all in God's plan for many people to see and hear the good news and power of Jesus.
Paul has been moving toward Jerusalem, even though he had warnings not to go. When he arrives, things go down exactly as he was warned. And yet, he is right where the Father wants him. Jesus is with him. The Spirit is empowering him. He has not taken the safe route, but the good route, and he has not gone alone.
Paul made three missionary trips around Asia Minor and Greece before traveling to Jerusalem for the Pentecost feast and to deliver some aid to the poor from Gentile cities. From there he would travel even further on. But before he left, he wanted to encourage the new believers in those cities to continue strong in the faith, following after Jesus, because he knew he would never see them again.
Luke’s retelling of this story includes a strange event right in the middle of Paul’s farewell tour; a young boy falling out of a window to his death. Yet, even in this tragedy, the Spirit of God was moving His mission of the restoration of life forward, just as He was moving Paul forward to share this good news with all the nations.
The Gospel means good news. Yet, while it is good news of rescue and salvation, for many, we find that it first must disrupt everything else we have put our trust in and built our lives around. It is only when those things get disrupted that we can turn to the good news of what will truly save us.
This week’s text shows us three types of faith: a lacking faith, a lying faith, and a liberating faith. The lacking faith is not incorrect, just incomplete. The lying faith is an imposter which needs to be exposed. The liberating faith is a life set free as it is immersed into the identity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
After leaving Athens, Paul traveled to the much different city of Corinth. There he was weary and afraid, likely because of the many obstacles he faced from his travels and even more so from the culture in Corinth he was surrounded by. Yet, God shows up. He provides community for him in Aquila and Priscilla, and Jesus himself speaks words of comfort and encouragement. This allows Paul the strength to stay in Corinth for a year and a half, speaking good news.
The words of Jesus to Paul are words for us still today.
Often, the work God has for us happens during what seems to be interruptions to our life. Paul found himself in Athens alone as a temporary escape from the threats in another city. Yet, God had him there for a purpose. This was a much different crowd, filled with many different thoughts and views on life. Yet, whether he was in the synagogue, the marketplace, or in the seat of philosophers, Paul had one message to bring: the story of Jesus.
Acts 16 gives us a snapshot of multiple characters coming to follow Jesus — and the sacrifices they made for others to hear the good news. When we are called to follow Jesus and to share the Kingdom with others, it comes at a cost. The promise is not that it will be easy, but that the King is with us to the very end.
In Acts 15, the council of apostles and leaders of the earliest community of Jesus followers had a question before them: ‘What determines whether a person is in Christ or not?’ Their answer: ‘The grace of God through the work of Jesus, not through our own work.’
This meant that the religious rules they had been taught to follow their entire lives, though they had their place, were not what saved them. This also meant the things that had distinguished Jews from the rest of the world as God’s own people were no longer dividing lines. Most of all, this meant that all people were welcome into the Kingdom of God as they recognized Jesus as King.
It is our worship of Jesus that saves us, not our works.
Charlie Meo, pastor of Missio Dei Tempe, visits us with a message from Acts 13:13-52. What happens when we are formed by God, together, but not for the sake of others? This is what Israel looked like. How have we patterned this? Are there any barriers or blindspots we haven’t realized we set up which keep others from coming into the community of God’s people? May we be a people formed by God, together, for the sake of others.
A tale of two kingdoms: King Herod, aligned with the Roman empire, and the Kingdom of God Jesus came preaching. One seems to be oppressed by the other, to have far less power, yet actually holds the power over life and death. While the seemingly powerful kingdom brings death, the Kingdom of God brings rest.
A summary of Acts 10 and 11, revealing that nearness to God is available to all people of all nations, everywhere, because of Jesus.
In this scene of Acts we see a community at peace, a man healed, the marginalized cared for, and a woman brought back from death to life. These miraculous things were a preview of what is to come in fullness one day. The works of Jesus, pointing us to the ultimate work he has accomplished at his death and resurrection and we will fully experience at his return. In the power of his Spirit, we too can become a preview people, showing the world a glimpse of restoration.
Saul’s encounter with Jesus leaves him blind for three days. Yet more than losing his sight, he had his entire world turned upside down. Everything he thought he knew about following God and living right had just been challenged. But out of this loss, out of this darkness, light had come — and Saul would finally see for the first time in his life.
The Spirit of God continues to work through ordinary men and women. Philip is one of those willing participants in God’s work, partnering with the Spirit to bring the message of good news of the Kingdom of God through Jesus, to even the least likely of people. God is building His family and community and gathering people from all tribes, tongues, and nations together, as one.
Acts 8 gives us a snapshot of another ordinary man filled with the extraordinary power of the Spirit of God. Philip traveled to Samaria to bring the good news of Jesus to a people traditionally hated by Jewish men and women. There, he encounters a man named Simon who is using another power to gain control and status in the community. Yet his power is no match for the power of God — so Simon wants the power the followers of Jesus possess and is willing to pay the right price for it.
It may seem like a strange, otherworldly story to us. But are there ways we try to obtain the favor, love, or power of God too? Do we try to earn or buy it, when it is freely given by Jesus?
Stephen was an ordinary man, who was filled with the extraordinary love, wisdom, and power of the Spirit of God. In this love and power, he was able to share good news with many. When he was confronted with those who were angered and threatened by the way of Jesus, the Spirit gave Stephen the words to retell the Story of their faith, and show how Jesus was the culmination of that Story. And when those same people were outraged by this story and began to murder Stephen, the Spirit gave Stephen a peace and strength allowing him to suffer in the same manner as Jesus — so that he would also share in his glory.
Today, we are invited into this same Story, to be filled by the same Spirit, to share in both the same suffering and glory.
As the good news of Jesus was spreading throughout Jerusalem and forming a new community of people, it was turning life upside down as everyone knew it. For some, they were radically exchanging everything they ever knew for a new way of life, even giving up their possessions in order to share and care for others. For others, it was a threat to their way of life, with the possibility of taking their control and power.
The news of Jesus brings Restoration to the poor in spirit; those who know they are in need.
The news of Jesus stirs up Resistance from the proud.
The news of Jesus brings Renewal for the one bringing the news.
The story of Ananias and Sapphira is one that often strikes fear and trembling… or sparks confusion. Yet, this story of an event that took place within the very first community of Jesus followers is important to see the holiness of God, the rebellion of people, and the unchanging gracious pursuit of God for His people.
There is no other name by which we are saved.
What does this statement claim? What does it mean? How did it radically transform a community of oppressed and scared people? What does it mean for us to carry the name of Jesus with us now? To be immersed into his name?
This is what Easter and the resurrection is all about!
In the book of Revelation, we find we are reading someone else’s mail. Jesus sent a message through John to specific churches in Asia Minor. But the Spirit has preserved these words to speak to us still today!
The final community addressed was the church in Laodicea. The common picture of a lukewarm church where Jesus stands knocking at the door is found in this letter. Yet, as we look deeper we may find this message cuts at our hearts even more than we assumed of it.
In the book of Revelation, we find we are reading someone else’s mail. Jesus sent a message through John to specific churches in Asia Minor. But the Spirit has preserved these words to speak to us still today!
The community of Jesus followers in Philadelphia was small and had little power. They had been displaced from their home by earthquakes and even when they were able to go back and rebuild, they were caught between two opposing powers; the Greco-Roman worship of gods and Caesar, and the Jewish synagogue who wouldn’t let Jesus followers in. This small church is one of two out of the seven that Jesus had nothing to say against, but only words of encouragement, hope, and a promise for those who endure.
In the book of Revelation, we find we are reading someone else’s mail. Jesus sent a message through John to specific churches in Asia Minor. But the Spirit has preserved these words to speak to us still today!
Sardis was a well guarded city positioned against rocky mountain terrain. Because of this, there is only a history of them being attacked two times — both times were because their watchmen fell asleep at their post, taking their security for granted. Jesus writes to the church in Sardis to say they are doing the same. They are not staying alert to the threats of the world around them — threats against their faith. They are spiritually asleep, or dead even, to the realities of the warfare happening in their midst. Jesus calls them to wake up! To stay alert and remember the good news they had received. To hold onto that and turn away from the things that have lulled them to sleep.
In the book of Revelation, we find we are reading someone else’s mail. Jesus sent a message through John to specific churches in Asia Minor. But the Spirit has preserved these words to speak to us still today!
Jesus’ first words to Thyatira sound almost as if they are an ideal church, living with faithfulness, love, service, and endurance. Yet, they are caught up in the same traps Pergamum was — giving their bodies over to sin for temporary pleasure. A completely different group of people in a different context, enticed and lured away by the same desires. Isn’t this true of many of us today? How can we overcome wicked desires and find those desires satisfied in Christ alone?
In the book of Revelation, we find we are reading someone else’s mail. Jesus sent a message through John to specific churches in Asia Minor. But the Spirit has preserved these words to speak to us still today!
His message to Pergamum begins with encouragement for continuing to proclaim the name of Jesus as Lord faithfully in a city hostile to their faith. Yet, they have mixed in idolatrous practices of those around them. Jesus has serious words of warning for that!
In the book of Revelation, we find we are reading someone else’s mail. Jesus sent a message through John to specific churches in Asia Minor. But the Spirit has preserved these words to speak to us still today!
Jesus’ message to the church in Smyrna was one of hope. They were a small, destitute church living in poverty and under oppression — for the sake of the Gospel! Jesus reassured them that he knew them well and he knew their suffering well. In fact, Jesus had endured everything they were going through already; and he overcame. His promise to them is that if they continued to remain faithful, they too would overcome death and receive the eternal crown of life.
Lent traditionally has 3 components: Fasting, Prayer, and Giving.
It is a period of reflection on the brokenness of the world and our need for rescuing, which leads us up to the celebration of Easter. In order to fully embrace the resurrection of new life, we must also face the stain of death caused by human rebellion. This short audio was an invitation to our congregation into the season of Lent together.
Fasting: we invite everyone to replace an unhealthy rhythm with one that draws you closer to Christ.
Prayer: we are sending out a Psalm every Wednesday as a prayer prompt.
Giving: we are committing as a family to give to Eastern European churches caring for Ukrainian refugees.
In the book of Revelation, we find we are reading someone else’s mail. Jesus sent a message through John to specific churches in Asia Minor. Ephesus was the first stop. They were standing strong in the truth in the midst of an idolatrous culture. But they had neglected to walk in actionable love for one another. Jesus wanted to call them back, in his love, by his grace.
A new community was forming, centered around Jesus, empowered by His very Spirit sent from the Father. This power allowed for them to be part of some pretty amazing things, but just as Jesus tired of the crowds coming to him to see miracles, these events were pointing to something more powerful. People were being restored into community, good news was being preached, and the system the world operated in was being set right — in small part — as a preview of what would come fully one day.
The presence of God's Spirit radically transformed a diverse crowd of people, brought them together as a one people, and put that community on display to others so that they would grow and multiply. The call of humanity at creation had been reestablished -- diverse humans being made one, empowered by the presence of God to be fruitful and multiply.
The day the Spirit came and filled followers of Jesus was a day promised long ago, but it came like no one expected. Through a rushing, violent wind, and fire that didn't burn, God came and made His home with His people -- so that we could come make our home with Him.
The work of Jesus in healing the sick, feeding the hungry, preaching the good news, raising the dead, going to the grave himself, and rising by the power of the Spirit was only the beginning. Jesus continued his work, and is continuing it still, with the same Spirit empowering a new body.
Our formation in God and our community with one another is more deeply formed as we live on mission for the sake of others. God has always designed humanity to have a purpose, to be a display of His good work in front of all of creation, for the sake of the world.
We took a few minutes to talk about our MC’s and pray for the mission we are sent on. Specifically we prayed that:
1) Our Missio Communities would multiply
2) Our Missio Communities would invite others in
3) Our own tables would be more open and diverse
God has formed us to be together, many distinct people in unity as one body, in order to best reflect what He is like. Most of creation has been designed this way, to be connected together. Yet, sin has broken us apart and created a desire for individualism. Jesus has come to reunite us as his body, bringing us together with one another and together with God once again.
We give an update on the budget, our hopes for how we will steward it together this year, and prayed for God to knit us more closely together.
Specifically, we prayed for:
1) Our commitment strengthened
2) Our schedules shared
3) Our stories more fully known
What are you being formed by? Which narratives give shape to your life? What rhythms, practices, and patterns are forming who you are? We desire that as a people we would be shaped first and foremost by God. His ways, His Word, His heart, His Spirit.
We took a few minutes at the start of the year to talk about how we will strive to be formed this year by God. More importantly, we spent a few minutes in prayer for God to form us. Specifically, we prayed for:
1) Our family to grow in size
2) Our family to grow in maturity
3) Our family to grow in love
Joy to the world, the Lord has come!
We have a hope that the love of God will one day bring the wholeness of peace and restoration to this world — and when that comes we will experience the fullness of joy. Yet, we can experience that joy even here and now.
Joy is not fleeting happiness or feeling good, but a constant source of satisfaction found not in our temporary circumstances, but in our eternal outcome.
Love is not a dopamine high or warm fuzzy feelings. It is the continual keeping of covenant commitment. It is intentional, relational, sacrificial, and actionable. It is God - flowing from Him and through Him and for Him. We can love because He has first loved us - most clearly seen through Jesus.
In our first week of Advent, we look at the hope the early church had because of Jesus and the hope we still hold onto today, because Jesus will return. Hope in Jesus is not like the wishful thinking we talk about when we hope for a raise or hope for the pandemic to end. Real biblical hope is a confident assurance of what God will do, rooted in what God has already done in history.
Following Jesus is a group project.
God's Spirit has been breathed out upon a community of people so that they would live in such a way, together, that the world may see God's glory. The church is to be formed by God - together - for the sake of the world.
But that’s not something we can do in our own strength, even by joining together. Following Jesus is not just a group project with other followers, but it is a partnership with God Himself. We are called to partner with the Spirit. As we devote ourselves to what He calls us to, He is faithful to build His Kingdom.
What changed in the few weeks between Jesus' followers running and hiding from fear for their lives to surging out into the streets with a message for thousands to hear? They had been equipped by Jesus. They had been witnesses of Jesus. They had been commissioned by Jesus. But the day had finally come which gave power to all of that. The day had come which made all of those other days all the more real. On the day of Pentecost, the Spirit of God was breathed into these disciples. As the breath of God once again filled humanity, they were also filled with the hope that this was just the beginning.
After conquering death, sin, and satan, Jesus went to prepare a place for God to dwell with man - restoring what was originally intended in the beginning. But before that, he invited his followers to join in his work. They were to become co-laborers in the mission... they were co-missioned into the work of Jesus. Humans had not had a very good track record of this work, but this time would be different. Jesus promised to be with them in the mission - always.
As we've journeyed through the True Story of the Scriptures all year, we finally come to the climactic turning point of human history: the death and resurrection of Jesus. His sacrifice and crucifixion are only half of this world renewing event. It finds its completion - and we find our hope - on the third day afterward when the tomb was empty.
The night of Jesus’ betrayal he shared an important meal with his closest friends and his betrayer. But right before they ate, Jesus knelt down to serve his followers by washing their dirty, grimy, travel-worn feet. Jesus, the King of all creation, took on the posture of a servant — a slave even. He washed all of them, including the one who would betray him. Yet, this was just a foretaste. He was about to serve them in an even greater and more difficult way.
Anthony takes us through the last supper, helping us see how the Passover meal was a way for Israel to remember what God had done for them in Egypt and reaffirm who they were as God's people. When Jesus took this meal with his friends the night he was betrayed, he brought its' significance to a whole new level for us. Now we take the bread and wine to remember what Christ has done for us and reaffirm who we are in Christ.
As Jesus entered into Jerusalem and the last week of his time on earth, he was welcomed in by shouts from a crowd, "Save us please!" Just a week later the crowd would be yelling "Crucify him!"
When Jesus was confronted by religious leaders about why he was spending time with sinners, he told three stories: a parable of a lost sheep, a parable of a lost coin, and a parable of lost sons. The story tells of a wayward younger son who runs from home and lives recklessly without regard to his family, and an older son who stays home working and following all the rules in order to get what he wants. Yet, both sons are equally lost. The difference is one son comes to his senses and back to the father.
Many of us are familiar with the story Jesus told of the Good Samaritan. Who do you picture yourself as in that story? The man who gets beaten and robbed, left for dead? The ones who pass by on the other side of the road to avoid the mess? The Samaritan who cares for him? Could it be that Jesus himself has taken on the role of the Good Samaritan, and our role is found in one other character in the story who often gets forgotten?
Jesus taught his followers how to pray, how to approach the God of the universe. And it starts with recognizing who you are speaking to.
Jesus attracted many different kinds of people with his miracles, his care, and his words. Many of them were looking for the same thing you and I are looking for - the blessed life. How do we find happiness? How do we get fulfillment? How can we truly be satisfied?
Jesus' words on this shocked his listeners and they're just as shocking to our culture today. The way to be blessed? Well, start by acknowledging how little you have.
The very first miracle where Jesus showed his glory was making wine out of water when a wedding celebration ran out of the good stuff. Was this a random, unplanned moment? Was this a side quest in the real mission Jesus came for? If we look closely and reframe this story away from our context into the people’s who lived it, we just may find how this moment was instrumental in telling the world who Jesus is and exactly why he came.
God’s people had been waiting and holding their breath for the promised Messiah to come and rescue them. They all had different expectations of what to look for. When he finally came into the world, many could not see him because they were searching for something else. Yet, Jesus came just as promised. What are you looking for? What do you seek? Are you able to see the real Jesus and find the hope, joy, peace, and rescue you need?
God reveals Himself to the world through His works. All of creation displays a Creator. How have you seen God on display in His world lately?
Psalm 19 wraps up our month in the psalms and reminds us how creation points us to the glory of God.
All things were created by God and all creation praises God! Even the parts of creation which seem scary, dangerous, or chaotic. God, the Creator, brings order out of the chaos and creates space for life.
We pray we become a people who experience and display God's power, seek the benefit of the place He has us, and invite others into His presence.
God loves to use the everyday work of humans to complete His own incredible work. In the rebuilding of Jerusalem, this included singers, builders, and even something called a dung gate. How is He wanting to partner with your everyday work?
Temple, Laws, Walls, and... hair pulling?!?
The story of God's people returning from Exile to rebuild Jerusalem didn't go exactly as planned. What happens when there is a zeal for God without the wisdom and love of God?
The words of Jeremiah were given by God to prepare His people for exile. You're about to be taken into captivity, forced to live in a foreign land, ruled by an oppressive nation. What should you do? How should you live? God's words delivered through Jeremiah were shocking. Make it a home. Plant and tend to gardens. Enter into relationships and build families. In essence, continue the call given to humanity at the very beginning... whether you're in a garden of paradise or exiled in Babylon.
Have you ever been so happy you couldn’t help but to sing?
Sing! Rejoice! Because even though this world is broken, life is hard, and you have rebelled, God will come and sing over you with rejoicing — if you have humbled yourself and recognize your need for Him. He will rescue you like a mighty warrior. How amazing is it that God sings over His people?
God’s people were worshipping the gods of other nations along with the God of Israel. As Elijah said, they were hobbling between two crutches. God uses Elijah, his prophet, to show who the true God is during an epic showdown between Elijah and 450 prophets of Baal. It would seem Elijah would be outmatched, but really it was a battle between God and Baal - and Baal would prove to be no match at all for the true God.
God's people wanted a king, just like the other nations had. They wanted one who would represent them well. One who was tall, handsome, strong - a natural leader.
But God was their true King, and if He was going to give them a human representative it would be one who represented what He is like - not what the other nations were like. This is the context where we find the power struggle between Saul and David.
Israel had been rescued by God and finally entered into the promised land of rest. But it didn’t take long for them to rebel against Him and worship other gods. So, God would hand them over to their rebellion and let the gods they worshipped and the nations they longed for take them over. They would cry out for rescue so God would send someone as a judge over sin and the other nations. The people would rejoice, but again, it didn’t take long to repeat their rebellion.
They found themselves in an exhausting cycle: rescue, rest, rebellion, reaping the consequences, rescue… repeat. Who could come and break the cycle?
God’s people had been freed from slavery but had been wandering around the wilderness now for decades. To make matters worse, their leader Moses had passed away. Would this new leader, Joshua, be able to cut it? Would the people finally enter into the land promised to them long ago? Would they finally learn that it was not Moses or Joshua who would rescue them, but Yahweh himself who is their salvation?
Once God set His people free from slavery to Egypt, He showed His power to them and gave them a new way to live. In His ways. As His representatives.
These commandments were not just rules to follow. They were a liberating new way of life that would display God’s glory and goodness to the rest of the nations.
God has gone head to head with Pharaoh, perhaps the most powerful man in the world. Pharaoh brought all of his gods to the battle as well. God, the Lord of Israel, the Creator of all the universe, has been victorious every step of the way. Nine times, he defeats the gods of Egypt. Then He had one last blow to deal. Yet, even in the brutal discipline and judgment of God, He provides a way out. He gives an opportunity for not just Israel, but all who would trust in Him, to have death pass over them and lead them on to life.
Nearly everything humanity has placed our hope in has failed, faded, or passed away. But there is a living hope that will never fail, and it is found in the resurrection.
God has incredible work ahead for His people, but who are we to do this work? There is only one answer to that question that will allow us to go forth...
Could you imagine going somewhere on vacation only to find yourself stuck there for the rest of your life? The vacation spot would turn into a prison. What if then the indigenous people who you once traveled to enjoy their culture begun to oppress you and your family, putting you to work for them, and replacing the once delicious culinary experience with bland food that serves only as sustenance for more work?
This is sort of what happens to Israel. They went to Egypt as a rescue from the famine. 400 years later their descendants still lived there as slaves. Who would come to rescue them? What about the promise God gave their ancestors of their own land in Canaan? In Exodus 1 & 2, we hear about a God who hears, sees, and knows. A God who has not given up on His people. A God of rescue.
If you read Genesis, and much of the Old Testament, you might come across this reoccurring theme: God calls a human to be His representative, that human fails or rebels against God, God disciplines but also makes a promise to continue. Then, He starts with another human.
Is God rebooting His plan over and over again until He finds the right human for the role? Or are we seeing a rerun episode of God doing what He has always done, continuing the plan He set forth from the very beginning?
As we look at the 12 brothers of Jacob (Israel), we find a great prospect for this lineage to continue through Joseph. However, Jesus one day would come through the tribe of Judah, the brother who betrayed Joseph for some silver. What is God up to?
Israel’s family history is one with a sketchy past. Deceit, manipulation, lack of trust, and outright rebellion are just a few characteristics - many of which can be seen in the man whom the entire nation would be named after. Jacob, is later renamed Israel, grasps for what was not his while his twin brother lets it all go for fleeting satisfaction. And yet, though these two brothers lived thousands of years before us, they not only tell the story of Israel but the story of humanity.
God just won’t give up on His plan to partner with humanity as His representatives to care for creation. He chose a man, Abram, to grow a family which would build a nation in order to bless the rest of the world. Abram didn’t always come through on his end of the partnership. Neither would his descendants. But there would be one who would come as a descendant of humanity and of God Himself, who would uphold both ends of the partnership, and take on the bloody consequence of those who broke it.
The story of the flood is not a cutesy children’s tale with animals and a boat. It’s a horrific, tragic, true story. Yet, on the other side of the chaotic waters, it is also a true story of hope and restoration. Join us as we look at this story and try to tackle some of the difficult questions it brings up.
Recorded on Zoom (please forgive the audio quality)
Chris Gonzalez from Missio Dei: Tempe joins us as we look at Genesis 3 and the rebellion of humanity against our Creator. Chris unpacks the biblical story and how we often minimize parts of the Story to fit our own narratives.
Recording from Zoom (please forgive the audio quality)
This week's gathering was a little different as the realities of Covid forced us to all meet via Zoom. Please excuse the recording quality and the tone which was much more teaching and discussion than sermon.
God created some great potential in small beginnings, and called humanity to partner with Him in making it all flourish. How has humanity done with this partnership?
*Including audio from a video we showed from the Bible Project. You can access all of their resources for free at bibleproject.org
We begin a 40 week series through the entire True Story of Scripture, starting at the very beginning. Back in the day, God made everything up there and down here. He made order in the midst of chaos and placed life in the space where it could flourish. Then He appointed a particular creature, humans, to care for all of it.
As we try to realign our hearts to the True Story of the good news of Jesus and the Kingdom of God, we are reminded of our true identity in Jesus. We are a family of missionary servants, learning to follow Jesus. Or, to put it another way, we are a community of God’s people, learning to live in God’s ways, for the sake of our city.
The Bible tells one cohesive story from Creation to Restoration - and it is the True Story of the whole world. God, the Creator of the world, is the main character of this story. But this God existed even before the story began. We may not be able to know everything about this God, but by His love and grace, we can know God.
Simeon and Anna were two people who had waited their entire lives to see the promised Messiah; the one who would come to rescue God's people. Finally, they see their promise fulfilled in a little baby named Yeshua (Jesus). Their response is one of praise and of witness.
Perhaps you've heard this story before. The story of the virgin who gives a miraculous birth to a baby. The baby who would one day die and miraculously rise again. But this story is miraculous not only because of what happens, but because of why it happens. God has come to save His people, and to be with us.
Finally, after centuries of waiting, longing, and hoping, a miraculous birth occurred among the people of Israel. Well, not the one you're thinking of. At least, not just yet. Before Jesus was born, his cousin John was. Have you ever stopped to question why? Why did a regular human need to come and prepare people for the true perfect Son to come? Then again, why has God chosen to partner with humanity all throughout history?
Since the very beginning of the true story of the world, God's people have been waiting for the coming of their Rescuer. In the garden, a promise was given that he would one day come. And not only would he come from some far off place, but God would use the man and woman themselves to partner with his coming. All these years later, we have both seen him come and we wait again for him to return. We are a people of advent.
A brief conclusion to the book of Malachi and the entire Old Testament - and a hope for the Sun of Righteousness to come forth and shine upon the world. This was our final week in Malachi and the first week of the Advent season.
It all boils down to this: will you trust God?
This was what God wanted from His people from the very beginning - and it's His complaint to His people at the very end of the Old Testament. They have not trusted Him. They have not been an obedient son. Yet, God gave them a promise that a better Son was coming to serve the Father perfectly, on their behalf.
Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God. The second goes with it - to love others. In the message from Malachi, God had addressed first how Israel has not loved Him, then He went on to address their lack of love toward one another. They had not loved their own wives and families well, and that lack of concern for others spilled out to other parts of the community as well; the orphans, widows, and foreigners. All of this stemmed from their apathy toward God and His ways. How could they turn back to God and His love? Better yet - How can you and I deal with our own apathy toward God and His ways?
Malachi is the last prophetic book of the Old Testament, before a 400 year period of silence, until finally another prophet named John would come to get everyone ready for the coming Messiah.
In these parting words from the Lord, He reminds the people through Malachi that He has loved them, that He still loves them, and that He will always love them. But where is there love and honor for Him? Their hearts have grown cold. Their worship apathetic. As we hear these words spoken to Israel long ago, do we also find a message that can be spoken to us today?
Jonah's preaching to Nineveh was successful (despite him trying to sabotage it). Yet, instead of rejoicing in God's salvation for the city, he grew furious. How could God save such a wicked people? Jonah still didn't fully understand the depths of God's grace. Have we?
Jonah seemed to repent in chapter two. But is it possible to repent of your repentance? Don’t you and I do that all the time? Have you ever been sorry for your sin only to find yourself doing it again?
In chapter 3, God tells Jonah once again to go to Nineveh. This time he actually does, but it seems like he does the bare minimum required for the job. He barely goes into the city and preaches the only part of God’s message he likes - the part about Nineveh’s destruction. Yet, somehow God still uses Jonah’s actions and brings rescue to the great city of Nineveh. They humble themselves before God and recognize His power over them, and in His graciousness, He saves them.
Vomit. Giant sea creatures. Repentance. This tale has it all.
What seemed like certain death was actually God's saving grace when Jonah was swallowed up by the big fish. 3 days and 3 nights in the dark belly of the beast, Jonah had time to reflect and turn from his foolishness (even if temporarily). Then, at that moment God breathed new life into Jonah - or in this case, vomited new life.
Thankfully a better prophet came into the world who also descended into the dark belly of the beast of death on our behalf... but not because he was running from God, but because he was obedient to Him. Then on the third day he rose again (not from vomit this time). Now we can have new life breathed into the dark belly of the beast of our sin.
The book of Jonah has often been relegated to a children's story about a whale. But Jonah's story is the story of Israel. It's the story of God's people. It's the story of you and I... and more importantly, it's the story of the God who relentlessly pursues His people.
Why do we run from this God? You and I do it too, not just Jonah. What is your boat to Tarshish? Why do we look to so many other false hopes in the midst of the storm of our life? God is the only one who can calm the storm, as He enters into the storm on our behalf.
In the final chapter of Ruth we see a family redeemer remove his sandal as a symbol of passing up his opportunity and responsibility to care for the vulnerable and invite in the foreigner, while another redeemer steps up in his place. This reminds us of Israel’s call to be a light to the nations and a kingdom of priests, but they neglected their call in order to look out for themselves. Thank God another, better, truer Redeemer came in their place. One whose sandals all others were not worthy to untie.
In Ruth 3 we see Naomi try to take matters into her own hands to provide for Ruth. The stage is set for history to repeat itself and for Israel to continue "doing what is right in their own eyes". But right at the climactic moment, something changes. What Naomi purposed in her own understanding, God intervened and used for the good of all His people.
Ruth goes to glean in Boaz’s field. She’s poor, hungry, an immigrant, a widow, and she’s vulnerable. Boaz and his men have every opportunity to take advantage of her… and every responsibility to take care of her.
The book of Ruth has often been treated as a side-story in the Bible about friendship or finding love... but it is so much more! The foreign, barren widow, Ruth, points us forward to the King of all creation, Jesus. In this historical story we find the loyalty and faithfulness of an oppressed woman teaching us about the loyalty and faithfulness of a good God.
Because of who God is, what He has done, and who He has made us to be - we can now live out the rhythms of life with intention, bringing the good news in all areas as we bless, listen, eat, speak, and sabbath.
The Canadians are coming. 2020 has got nothing on 587BC. Plus, some good news from the True Story.
Listen to this teaching from Chris Gonzalez of Missio Dei: Tempe to hear more about our purpose and identity as God's people.
After reminding the church in Thessalonica about the hope they have in the return of King Jesus, he seemingly takes a sharp turn to talk about work and eating. Apparently, the good news of Christ and the Kingdom of God have much to say about the physical tangible world in which we currently live.
Because of the hope we have that Christ has died in our place, risen to new life, given us his Spirit, and is coming back, we can now joyfully partner with his Spirit as we grow in our sanctification - becoming more like Jesus.
The Thessalonian church needed to be reminded of the hope they had - that the true King of the world would return to set all things right finally and fully. This truth comes along with an assurance, that the false kingdoms humanity has built out of rebellion against God will surely fall. Even still today, we need this same hope and reassurance. King Jesus is coming. He will set all things right. And the empires we’ve built that oppose him will fall, but if we trust in him and follow him into his kingdom, we will be gathered into his salvation.
Paul wrote again to the small oppressed church in Thessalonica, continuing to encourage them in their faith, love, and hope. Their faith and love had continued to show strong, but in the midst of oppression and false teachers they struggled to hold onto hope. Paul's reminder and assurance is that Jesus is indeed coming back and when he does, he will put an end to the injustice and set all things right.
To wrap up our series in the Psalms, we look at some of Jesus' words at the end of his sermon on the mount side-by-side with Psalm one. The wisdom in these words bring us to our starting point in coming to the Scriptures, as well as our starting point in current life circumstances. We must begin with the question of who God is and how He is at work in the world, rather than beginning with ourselves, in order to rightly understand our place.
For our final psalm this summer, we look at Psalm 98. This is a psalm that calls God’s people to look forward to our coming hope, and to rejoice. Though the world is broken and messed up right now, renewal and restoration are coming. We have a reason to sing a new song.
A call and response psalm: where the call reminds us of the Story of God at work in His world, and the response is praise. God is a god who has chosen to make a covenant with His people and He will never give up on that promise. His relentless, unfailing, unending love and solidarity with His people leads to salvation and life!
Psalm 90, perhaps the only psalm we have from Moses, is a story of coming home. Though Moses lived in many different places, from the palace of Egypt to the mountains to the wilderness of the Exodus, he always found his home in the eternal loving arms of God. When we wander from our home with Him, our days become numbered and we enter into the limits of man. Thank God for His work through the life, death, and resurrection of Christ which brings us back home! Now may we enter not only into our eternal home, but also into the work of Christ.
God has made a covenant with His people - a deep agreement. Along with it come a promise, a command, and a warning. The promise of life, the command to follow Him, and a warning of what awaits if we do not. How have people been at keeping our end of the covenant? What is God’s response?
The psalms show us God's people longing to return to the house of God, to His dwelling place. At the start of the world there was an overlap of God's dwelling (heaven) with humanity's (earth) in Eden. This was lost because of mankind's rebellion. The temple for Israel was a picture of this, where God's dwelling would overlap with humanity's. Israel also lost their home and access to the temple because of their own rebellion. Psalm 65 shows us a virtual return to God's house and reminds us that God has not given up on His creation. He is still very much at work in His world, bringing healing and reconciliation to the land and to the people. One day, His home will overlap again with man's.
In the beginning of creation there were two trees at the center of the story holding out a choice to humans: will you trust the Creator to show you what is good and what is not, or will you rebel against Him to try and make yourself king of your own life? Psalm 1 reminds God's people that one of these choices leads to life and the other leads to death. How have the first humans chosen? How have you and I chosen? If we've already gone to the wrong tree, is there any hope to find our way back to the right one?
As we begin our series in the Psalms this summer, we start by looking at four eternal truths about who God is. So far 2020 has been a tumultuous and strange year. These truths about who God is and how He is at work in His world give us anchors during the storm - something to hold onto and to rest in, knowing that no matter what may change in our present circumstance, God is always Good, Great, Glorious, and Gracious.
If Jesus was resurrected, what does that mean for you? For humanity? For all of creation? We continue through 1 Thessalonians for this 'physical distancing' Easter worship. He is risen!
Because of the love of Christ, our love ought to motivate us to good works for the sake of our neighbors.
What does it look like to overflow with love for all around you? Not just those you like or feel comfortable around, but even those who seem unlovable? How can we have this type of love?
Faith is an essential part of the Christian life and a word you've likely heard even if you haven't been around the church too long. But what does that word actually mean and how do we live it out? How much faith do we need to have? Where should we put that faith?
God calls us into His work with Him… to be co-workers with Him. Our job is simple really: let our lives witness to His kingdom. The problem is there is a tempter also at work to pull us away from this task. How do we fight off the temptation and live in our purpose of witnessing to God’s kingdom?
Paul saw the resistance and opposition that ran them out of Thessalonica and kept them from coming back as a play by the enemy. Not the Jewish religious leaders who actually stirred up the trouble. No, they were just a tool used in the process. The real obstacle came from a different enemy. How do we press on with such an enemy in our way?
You're suffering for believing this message. Just like the first church in Judea did. Just like the prophets did. Just like Jesus. Is it worth believing? I guess that all depends on whether this is a message from people, or from the living God who brings true life.
Even after suffering persecution in Philippi, Paul and Silas were still willing to share the message of Jesus in Thessalonica. Not only that, but to share their very lives (their souls) with them. What kind of message is worth giving up your life for?
The first letter to the Thessalonians is one of thankfulness for their faith and encouragement to continue in it. The church in Thessalonica was made up of new followers in Christ; converts who had recently turned from their cultural gods to trust in Jesus as King. They seemed to be marked by faith, love, and hope. The first chapter of this letter expresses a gratitude for the work God was doing in them, and how news of them had spread.
How does the True Story shape a missional people, sent to engage in God’s mission of the restoration of all things? See how God has been forming us into God’s people, living in God’s way, in sight of the nations.
One of our deacons, Will Krueger, speaking on how the True Story of the gospel shapes us into community.
If the story of the Bible really is the True Story of the world, what implications does this have for us? Shouldn’t this True Story then shape and form us as people living in the world? This week we explored together how the God who is writing the True Story has been at work forming a people from the beginning… and won’t stop until it’s done.
On the first Sunday of 2020, we began the year by reminding ourselves of the True Story of the whole world. We read a summarized version of the Scriptures beginning with the Creation of all things and moving all the way through to the Restoration of the world. It is out of this Story that we strive to live and shape our lives, by God’s grace and for His glory.
The promise that an offspring of the woman would come to crush the serpent’s head, the son of David would establish a kingdom for man and God to live together forever, the suffering servant would take humanity’s pain upon himself, and many other promises of advent, all came together in the birth of one Son. He was named Jesus, YHWH saves, and he was called Immanuel, because God had come to be with us.
The king and kingdom of Israel seemed to be something of the past. They were in exile, and every king they ever had failed them - even the best of them had passed away. God continued to speak through prophets to let His people know He was still pursuing them. Through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord told them that one day the promised Rescuer would come and take away their sorrow and suffering - and that he would take it upon himself. We can have joy because this Suffering Servant has taken our sorrow.
King David wanted to build a house for the Lord. It seemed like a good idea. But God didn’t need David to build anything for Him. Instead, it was the Lord who would build a house for David, all of Israel, and all of those in Christ. Jesus, the better King, came to dwell on earth and has gone to heaven to prepare a home - one for God and mankind to dwell in together forever - one where Jesus reigns as King forever. Welcome home.
Advent is a season of waiting expectantly. It’s a waiting that is rooted in hope. And hope is not empty wishing, but something founded in a promise and assured with evidence. At the very beginning of the True Story of the world, humans rebel against their intended purpose of creation. But immediately after, they are given a promise, and that promise is accompanied with assurance, that one day there would be a Rescuer to come and make things right. As we enter into this Advent season leading up to Christmas, may we remember that we too live in a real Advent, waiting, longing, and hoping for this same Rescuer to return to the world and finally and fully make all things right.
Daniel is given a message not for himself, but for the people of Israel in the coming years. It is confusing to Daniel and he has questions, but he doesn't necessarily get answers. Instead, he's told to pass the message on for those coming later and to go on his way. Go live your life in Babylon, Daniel, as a faithful representative of God's kingdom, just as you've always been commanded to do. We can learn so much from this. We won't always understand God's words or His ways, or how He is at work in His world, but we are called to trust Him and go on our way. Keep living your life in this world as a faithful representative of God's Kingdom until Christ returns.
We continue through the 3 chapter event of Daniel 10-12 with chapter 11. After strengthening Daniel, a messenger from God tells him what will happen to Israel in the years to come. The time between the last Old Testament prophet and the coming of Jesus was about 400 years when God seemed silent to His people. However, He told them ahead of time through this prophecy to Daniel what they would experience. They were given the Story so that they could faithfully live in it. In the same way, you and I have been told the Story before us and what will come in the end, and we have been empowered by God's Spirit to live faithfully in it now.
In his old age, Daniel is given another vision, a visible representation of the message of God. This vision will continue to unfold throughout chapter 11, but in chapter 10 we see God's message and His messenger strengthen Daniel in his weakness. What are you nourished in? Where do you draw your strength from?
After nearly 70 years of exile, Daniel reads the prophetic writings of Jeremiah that their time of discipline is almost over... or so he thinks. His response and the message God sends him might come as a surprise!
In chapter 8, Daniel switches back to writing in Hebrew to give the people of God a little more insight into what God had shown him through his dreams during the reign of Babylon. Other kingdoms would come after Babylon; Media/Persia, Greece, and so on, but they would all fall short of what humanity was intended to be. Daniel is troubled by this vision, but Gabriel, God's messenger of good news, arrives to interpret for him that there is hope: one day these beastly kingdoms will be overthrown.
Jesus often referred to himself as the Son of Man, a title he took from this very chapter. In chapter seven, Daniel wrote about a dream he had of beastly kingdoms and the hopeful future of a perfect human finally taking his rightful place as King over all creation on the throne with the Most High God.
Many of us have heard of the amazing story of Daniel being thrown in the lion's den and his miraculous rescue. Many of us have heard of and wished for his great faith. But is that really the point of the story? Is Daniel the hero of this story? Who else shows up in that den of lions to bring rescue? Who is the hero of this story, really?
A new king is in town… and he’s a bit of a fool. His drunken party leads to some foolish actions against the true King, the God of Israel. God visits him with a message that he is unfit to be ruling over the kingdom God gave to him.
What about you and I? Do we measure up? Are we fit to stand as God’s representatives before the rest of creation? Thankfully, we are able to only by being brought to maturity in the fullness of Christ’s glory.
Nebuchadnezzar was the most powerful person on earth while he was the king of Babylon, but all that authority had been given to him by a much more powerful King. Still, he would need to have it all taken away and be humbled to the lowest point possible before he would realize the King who truly has power, authority, dominion, and glory over all the earth forever.
When the whole world bows down to the world power and seems to have gone mad, three young men stand firm in their faith in the one true God. They do not lead a zealous rebellion. They do not form a religious boycott. They quietly yet firmly, resolutely yet respectfully, honor their king while honoring the true King of all kings. And yet, they are not the heroes of this story. There is a fourth man who appears in their distress and rescues them. The King the whole world really longs for.
What began as a terrifying dream causing Nebuchadnezzar to bring terror upon his own kingdom, God used to bring hope to His people and rescue for all. In chapter two of Daniel we see that God chose to reveal something to the enemy of His people. This reminds us that God is at work in His world, even through those who do not yet trust Him.
The book of Daniel is not primarily about prophecies and timelines, but to show how the people of God's Kingdom can live faithfully in a world ruled by man's kingdoms. How can we be faithful citizens of God's kingdom while living in exile?
All humans live our lives with daily rhythms that shape us. Everyone eats. Everyone listens to something or someone. Everyone has something to say. In light of who God is, what He has done for us in Christ, and who He has made us to be, what does it look like for us to do those things in line with our new identity? What if we did those things with an intentionality of sharing the good news of Jesus? Because of Christ, we can live out our BLESS rhythms of Blessing, Listening, Eating, Speaking, and Sabbathing for the glory of God.
Our doing flows out of our being, and our being comes from God's doing, not our own. Who are we now that God has brought us out of darkness and into light? Now that we who were once dead have been made alive? Now that Christ has given us a new identity? We have been made a family of servant missionaries, continually learning to follow Jesus in all of life.
When we start with God and what He has done, we gain a better understanding of ourselves, who we are, and how we are to live. This week we explore the power and purpose behind what God has done for us through Jesus the Christ, in the power of his Spirit.
Often we try to make our own way, create a name for ourselves, or find our identity. When we start there it is like frosting a cake before you bake it… we’re going backwards and it gets messy. Better yet, it’s like trying to be made without the Maker. Instead, what if we begin with asking the question, Who is God? From there, we can begin connecting the dots to see who we are truly meant to be and how we can live in this world.
As we wrap up our journey through the book of Luke, we pray that our eyes would be open so we could see Jesus as he truly is. For two of his followers who were ready to give up and go home after Jesus’ death, an encounter where they saw Jesus alive changed everything.
In Luke 22 and 23 we see a number of different types of people as they participate in or look upon the death of Jesus. Some of them are calling for Jesus’ death, many attest that he is innocent, but two see him in light of the kingdom. Luke tells us that Joseph of Arimathea and one of the criminals on the cross next to Jesus were looking for the coming kingdom of God and saw Jesus as one entering into that kingdom. It seems most others in this story were looking to some other kingdom. Which kingdom are you looking to?
The night Jesus was betrayed, arrested, and taken away to his death, he shared one last meal with his friends. This wasn’t just any meal. This was the Passover meal; a meal which held great significance for the deliverance of God’s people. The bread, the wine, and the lamb were all signposts back to when God had saved them from slavery to Egypt, and signposts pointing them forward to when He would save them again from their slavery to sin. Jesus became the bread, the wine, and the Lamb at this meal, and he invites us all now to sit at the table and feast with him.
Chapter 21 of Luke shows us Jesus at the temple in Jerusalem, the week of his death. Everyone he is with is enamored with the beauty of the temple, but Jesus is not impressed. He is more concerned with what is going on inside of the temple and inside of the hearts of the people within it. He is more concerned with creating a new temple for him to dwell in. He is more concerned with establishing a kingdom and a throne that will last forever.
Zacchaeus was hated by his community, because he was building a kingdom for himself at the expense of others. An encounter with the true King, Jesus, changed who he was completely.
Comparing ourselves with those around us, whether we see ourselves as better or not as good, is an inward self-focused perspective. When we look to the Creator of all things, we begin to see ourselves rightly. Only then can we humble ourselves before Him and find who we are truly meant to be.
A simple question, 'when is the kingdom coming?', has sparked all kinds of debate and confusion. Jesus addressed two different groups as he answered this question; the pharisees and his followers. At the heart of his response we see the same message to both: don't miss the kingdom of God by building your own.
Long thought of by many as a depiction of the afterlife, Jesus once told a fictional story that had much more to do with how God's people were living their current lives on earth, and how they were treating others made in God's image. The call of God's people has always been to use their blessings to be a blessing to others, inviting all into the loving community and kingdom of God. The main audience for this story Jesus was telling had lost that calling. What about us? How are we living out this call?
What does prodigal mean? The reckless and extravagant use of resources.
Jesus once told a story of two brothers; the younger who ran away from home and squandered his father’s inheritance, the older who stayed home and squandered his father’s presence. But the story is really about the father, who lavishly spent all of his resources to bring both of his sons into his loving arms.
At Jesus’ table is invitation and expectation. All are invited and welcome around his table, yet few will come to eat. What does your table look like? Who has been sitting in your home lately?
The Kingdom of God is growing inward, outward, and pointing us upward. How can we enter into this kingdom which transforms everything? There is only one entrance, one way in, one narrow door. His name is Jesus.
But on the first day of the week...
All hope seemed to have been lost. They were confused, frightened, perhaps angry, and devastated. But Sunday morning, something happened that changed not only their lives, but everything everywhere, for all of time.
On Palm Sunday Jesus was welcomed into Jerusalem as a triumphal king. He wept over the city knowing in 5 short days they would reject him for not being the king they expected. Do you welcome Jesus as the true King he is, or try to make him into a king who served your desires?
The Good King provides for His kingdom. As we dwell in the tension of the good kingdom come and the remnants of the broken kingdom we’ve built in rebellion, which will you fix your eyes on? One will fill you with despair, anxiety, and worry, while the other one will satisfy your soul.
What is the Kingdom of God about? Luke seems to think Jesus was breaking it down very simply for us: love God, love people, be with the King Jesus. In chapter 11, Jesus teaches us how to pray for the way of the kingdom, and at the heart of the prayer is a reshaping of our own hearts toward loving God, loving people, and being with the King.
Parables, the Mandela Effect, Samaritans, and Lawyers.
This week we take a look at a familiar story Jesus told of the Good Samaritan. Though familiar to us now, this was a scandalous story Jesus told to his listeners. One that provoked a radical love for both God and people… even the people they thought were undeserving.
In chapter 9 of Luke's gospel account, we see Jesus begin to make his way toward Jerusalem, knowing he will meet his death there. At the end of this chapter Jesus has an interaction with three men who claim they will follow him... each with their own caveat. What is that thing keeping you from truly following Jesus through death into life?
Jesus’ words, “Do not fear” and “Go in peace” mark the miracles he worked as he healed a woman from a chronic illness and raised a girl from the dead. This powerful work, accompanied by his loving words, show that Jesus has come to restore true shalom - a wholeness type of peace.
The more you recognize your need for forgiveness, the more love and gratitude it seems you will give back. At least, that's the economy of forgiveness Jesus tells about while a woman society shunned was serving him at the table of a highly respected religious leader. Which do you identify more with: the sinful woman in need or the self-righteous man who thinks he’s good?
Guest speaker and deacon at Missio Peoria, Will Krueger, walks us through the moments that have transpired since Jesus healed the paralytic man in chapter 5, his interactions with those who question him, up through his famous command to love your enemies.
This week we hear a story of a paralyzed man and his friends who do everything they can to get him to Jesus, because they knew he had the power to heal. Jesus does, but he first heals him spiritually. It’s our prayer that you would know the healing power of Jesus, which saves us from the sickness of sin! Only Jesus has the power and authority to heal physical (disease) and spiritual (sin) sickness.
The good news of Jesus is often not what we expect. His words were often shocking to people and difficult to understand. Jesus often approached what God’s people thought they knew, and revealed an even deeper and better meaning behind them.
In Luke 4, Jesus stands in the synagogue reading from Isaiah's words centuries before. He is the fulfillment of those long awaited words promised, and yet it is unlike anything expected.
Continuing our tour through Luke, we see Jesus and John are both grown now and John is preaching for people to turn away from trusting themselves or this world, and to turn toward trusting God. Get ready for the kingdom of God to come and reign over all of creation. He calls for people to come and cleanse themselves in the river as a sign of their cleansing from rebellion against God, and among the crowd that comes is Jesus. Why would Jesus get baptized? Why would the Savior need cleansing? Why would the King need to prepare for the kingdom?
The Gospel is Good News of a true event that has taken place in history and has changed everything. Those who believe in this good news have been and are being transformed. We have been given a new identity, so we are no longer enemies of God, but we are a Family of Servant Missionaries, Learning to follow Jesus in all of life.
Last week we looked at this identity lived out in the first followers of Christ. This week we take a look at how we, as followers of Christ, are formed into a community on mission.
The Gospel is Good News of a true event that has taken place in history and has changed everything. Those who believe in this good news have been and are being transformed. We have been given a new identity, so we are no longer enemies of God, but we are a Family of Servant Missionaries, Learning to follow Jesus in all of life.
This week we take a look at how this new identity formed the first followers of Christ into a community on mission. Next week we will see how this is still true for us today.
This is the week! We’ve spent all month pointing toward the coming King Jesus, and this week we celebrate that he did indeed come. The God of the universe, the Creator of all things, the King of everything, has come into this world. He has come to you and I. He has come to rescue. It's our prayer that you would see the beautiful rescue of Christmas this week - and that that is what would shine through all the excitement of presents and the hurriedness of our culture.
Sometimes when I’m eating really good food, I do a little happy dance while I’m eating. I don’t even realize I’m doing it. There is something about joy and experiencing goodness that brings out a reaction. We are designed to enjoy good things. This week, we look at the joyous good news that stirred Mary and Zechariah to a response of singing and praising God. What has been stirring in you this week?
The Christmas season is a time of looking forward to all kinds of things; presents, treats, time with family, time off from school or work. This story takes us to a time when God’s people were looking forward to His rescue and salvation. Still, when the time had come for this news, it was almost too good to be true. What is your response when you hear the good news of God?
How can we be certain about what we’ve heard of Jesus? Why does it matter? This week we begin both our study in the book of Luke, as well as the season of Advent. Join us as we discover and investigate the hope we have for all areas of life: physical, social, political, economical, spiritual, and more.
As we wrap up Ecclesiastes, much has been said and much has been written, and now there is only one thing left to say - a final word on the matter that brings us our conclusion and settles everything we have heard… fear God, and keep his commands.
As we near the end of the wisdom of the Preacher, he tells us to enjoy the days of our youth which are a gift from God. Yet, do so knowing that everything you do under the sun will come under judgement of God. Turning the chapter he uses beautiful poetry to remind us that those days of youth are also fleeting and we will all age unto death. What is the key to life? Remember your Creator in your youth and in your aging.
A little folly brings great destruction, while a little wisdom can bring great joy and strength. As we continue in chapters 9 and 10 of Ecclesiastes, the Preacher shows how even though the wise and foolish both share the same fate of death, it is much better to live wisely during your days under the sun.
Life seems like a paradox. The wise get what fools deserve and fools get what the wise deserve. Yet, God answers the paradox of this world with the ultimate paradox, of the righteous Son taking what the wicked deserve and those who trust in him getting his righteousness.
A good name is better than perfume on your day of death… and it’s better to go to a funeral than a birthday party. These are just some of the uplifting nuggets of wisdom the author of Ecclesiastes offers us. What does this mean? And how can we make it to our own funeral with a good name, when the Preacher of Ecclesiastes admits in the same chapter that no one on earth is righteous because we’ve all left God to search “many schemes” to make a name for ourselves?
This week we consider a big chunk of Scripture, looking at Ecclesiastes 5:8-6:9. We learn that we should not be surprised to see injustice and oppression in this life. Ecclesiastes warns us that living for things that only money can buy is vanity. Power and wealth is not enough for a satisfying life that really matters! Ecclesiastes tells us that we must learn to enjoy what God has provided, rejoicing in the life he gives—a life where he is at the center. A life lived with God is a life that is satisfied in God!
Ecclesiastes takes us to our right posture in our most essential relationship—that with God. Through the image of a “fool,” the text helps us see our utter inadequacy before our holy God and encourages a right posture in our approach to his perfection. We learn what a life of worship should look like.
We were created with great purpose and potential. Ecclesiastes points out that when we abandon our purpose, our potential is used for great harm.
In the chaos, disappointment, and unknowns of the whirlwind of our ever-changing world, the first part of Ecclesiastes ends as we see purpose and peace in God’s plan. Every season of our lives are His; the work of our hands is from Him; His plan endures; and He has put eternity in our hearts. In this knowledge, we have hope, we take pleasure in our lives, and we find God!
The teacher of Ecclesiastes compares different areas of life - wisdom with folly, pleasure with toil - and comes to the same conclusion for each of them. Everything is hevel. What does this word ‘hevel’ mean and why does he say this about everything in life? What are we to do with it then? Does our work matter? Can we find pleasure in life?
Is all of life meaningless? Is all our work just endless toil, sweat and weariness? What's in it for us? Have you ever asked these questions? The Preacher did These are the questions of Ecclesiastes, introduced in these opening verses. Using the images of generations, the sun, the wind, and streams, the 'Preacher' opens our eyes to the cyclical and temporary nature of life on earth. He asks how we can possibly find meaning in the “vapors” we grasp at during our lives on earth.
By being honest about life’s troubles, Ecclesiastes touches the hearts of people who struggle. As much as anything else, Ecclesiastes is for people who have their doubts about God but can’t stop thinking about him. It is a book in which we keep struggling with the problems of life and, as we struggle, we learn to trust God with the questions even when we do not have all the answers. Ecclesiastes powerfully communicates how human life is meaningless without God at the center. Ecclesiastes speaks to a world that is looking for satisfaction in wealth, relationships, vocation and pleasure, and points people to the one and only God who alone gives true satisfaction and joy.
We go over 3 reasons why we gather as a family of missionary servants: 1) to bring God glory, 2) to form & nurture a missional community, and 3) to witness to an unbelieving world.
If we are going to live out of our true identity as a family of missionary servants, then we must steward the children God has blessed us with to take up their role in the Missio Dei. Imagine what would it look like for us and our kids to embrace a Story for their lives in Who is God, What has God done, Who are we, How are we to live.
God is great. God is glorious. God is good. God is gracious. If these are truths we find in the True Story, what does that mean for us? What freedom is found in these beliefs?
What happens if we read the Bible as a rule book? A collection of moral stories? A list of inspirational sayings? How do these approaches help answer the big questions in life or help us find our place in the world? What if there's another way to approach the Scriptures?
The Bible is actually the True Story of the whole world. How do we live in God’s true Story and invite others into it?
This short psalm reminds us to direct our hearts toward God and His work, the healthy balance we find when we join in His work, and the heritage He has adopted us into when He calls us to His work.
Join us as we look into Psalm 145 to answer who God is, what He has done, who we are because of Him, and how we are now free to live. In this Psalm we see that God is great, glorious, good, and gracious, and our response is to praise Him forever and ever.
As we read Psalm 8, we pray to see the majesty of the LORD the way David writes about. And in doing so, it is there we find our own honor and worth, wrapped in God's majesty.
The book of Psalms records every emotion that has ever struck the human heart. Love; anger; fear; hurt; sadness; depression; joy--it's all there. We turn to the psalms because it address the full spectrum of human needs. In these one hundred and fifty songs we find direction for our lives and comfort for dark times. This ancient hymnal of praise speaks to us in ways that affect us beyond words. We take this week to dig into Psalm 139 to see that we find our significance when we see how significant we are to God.
This concluding doxology chimes in exactly with the message of the prayer as a whole: God's kingdom, God's power, and God's glory are what it's all about. To pray this prayer is to pray that God's kingdom may be seen in all the world as they see the glory of Jesus the Messiah. It is because God is King, and has become King in Jesus, that we can pray this prayer with confidence.
From testing in the desert to the agonizing plea in Gethsemane, Jesus demonstrated obedience to the Father's will in the face of evil. It's no wonder that now Jesus teaches his followers to pray that God would deliver them from the power of Evil. And we can pray this prayer with confidence because Jesus has met that power and has defeated it once and for all. To pray this prayer is to ask God to enable us to be his kingdom-people who realize the reality of evil and pain in this world, yet live knowing that Jesus has won the victory over it all.
Followers of Jesus are kingdom-people who know that they have been forgiven for their sins. Therefore, God's kingdom-people must live out forgiveness to others, otherwise they are denying the very basis of their own existence! Followers of Jesus breathe in true divine forgiveness day by day. Once that life-giving air from God fills us, we can't help but breathe it out. As we learn what it is like to be forgiven, we begin to discover that it is possible, and indeed joyful, to forgive others.