The Price Chapel Podcast: Recent Episodes
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Price Chapel is a church community that exists to “Find & Follow Jesus Together.” We value worshipping God, Biblical teaching, fellowship as family, outreach and investing in the next generation. Join us Sundays at 10:30AM
Everything changes for a small group of disciples when Jesus walks into the room three days after he was crucified. The rooms he enters are filled with men and women gathered in fear and doubt. There was uncertainty in the days ahead, there were rumors about what would happen and strange talk about Jesus being alive. When Jesus entered these spaces everything changed because he brought peace and hope.
Selfishness drives many of the sinful habits that undermine a flourishing faith and relationship with Jesus. Selfishness undermines personal faith, relationships, and ministry of the church. The Author of Hebrews gives his Jewish audience 10 keys to thwart the power of selfishness in our lives and center our hearts on Jesus.
Guest Speaker Nick Teny shares how the faith heroes in Hebrews 11 point to the enduring character of our faith. Hebrews 12 follows by highlighting the practices of those who have an enduring faith. Sometimes the journey of faith isn't a linear path and we encounter the bumps and twists and turns of life; yet, when we hold to these elements of an enduring faith Jesus carries us through.
Stories of faith are important for our own spiritual journeys. Hebrews 11 captures these stories from Biblical history. They highlight the risky faith of men and women who have placed their trust in God. In truth, we see that while this faith is risky from our perspective, betting on God's promises means we will never fail.
These persecuted believers appear to have experienced a decline in engagement due to persecution, ostracism, apostasy, and arrogance. So, the author addresses this faltering engagement by giving them a call to action; specifically, to provoke and encourage one another.
Jesus blood works like no other blood in history. Jesus' blood was the substitution for our blood; life for life. It washes us clean from our sin. Jesus' blood was spilt as a ransom for us, buying us back from death. Jesus' blood speaks for us claiming victory over the grave. And Jesus' blood provides the forgiveness we need for our all our sin.
Using the metaphor of a shadow the author of Hebrews exhorts Jewish believers to stop chasing the things that are only the vague outlines of the real thing we have in Jesus. Using the Old Testament, he points to the priesthood as the foretaste of Jesus, the tabernacle for the throne room of God, the law for the Word in flesh, and the old covenant promises with the new covenant of eternal life in Jesus. But these shadows are not limited to the ancient Jew. We see modern expressions of them even today. Chasing shadows fuels anxiety, but the good news is that we can chase Jesus instead.
Human history has demonstrated that spiritual hierarchy leads people to put their hope in a human leader instead of God. Hebrews 7 is where the author makes his case through Jewish history that Jesus is the Great High Priest who will hold the office for all eternity in the order of Melchizedek. But, what does this mean for us today? What is the priesthood, what was its purpose and do we need it today?
Can you lose your salvation? Hebrews chapter 6 poses a long debated question in Christianity. When wrestling with questions like these it is important to view them with a Christological hermeneutic. What does Jesus teach on this idea. His parables offer us an effective lens through which to view this question. What we discover is that the problem is that many people taste God's power, but still run away from God's presence. So, when we experience God's power our response must be to follow into a loving relationship with God in obedience.
The author of Hebrews writes his frustration with the Jewish believers calling them out for not growing up in their faith and understanding. Rather than developing their understanding of the new life they have in Jesus, they remained in a posture of waiting. They did not understand the gifts they had in Jesus that were going to waste. Maturity in Christ is knowing Him, living in God's presence and bringing His Kingdom wherever we go.
How well do you rest? Rest is an important aspect of our faith. The author of Hebrews calls his audience to remember God’s design for humankind to experience sabbath rest.
The author of Hebrews urges his audience to guard their hearts against unbelief. There is a danger in allowing our hearts to become hardened to the work of God. A hard heart is the result of unbelief which turns to contempt and ultimately negative patterns of behavior. Guarding our hearts takes diligence of nurturing our walk with God.
The book of Hebrews hails Jesus as the pioneer of our salvation. This salvation that Jesus brings carries with it a multitude of benefits, yet we often experience a spiritual drift from the source of our freedom and strength. However, we can be rescued from drifting away if we stay anchored to the pioneer of our salvation.
John the Baptist's story is one of courage, grit, and humility. John's birth was foretold by the angel Gabriel and set him on a path to be the linchpin between the Old Testament and the New Testament. Jesus even says he is the greatest among those born of women.
Revelation 12 envisions an apocalyptic nativity scene where the child that is born is pursued by a dragon. The child represents Jesus who came in love to model the power and heart of God. This model should shape the believer and follower to imitate the loving sacrifice of the child who would ultimately go to the cross for the sins of the world.
The dragon is the most ominous figure in John's apocalyptic account of the Christmas story. Who is this dragon and what role does it play in the Christmas story. John tells us that this dragon is the accuser, Satan, who has made it his mission to steal, kill, and destroy God's beautiful creation and image bearers.
Revelation 12 depicts a cosmic scene filled with symbolism and imagery that overlap in meaning. Who is the woman in this picture. She represents many, in each representation she receives from the Lord power, provision, and protection.
The Apostle John wrote a letter addressed to 7 churches located in modern day western Turkey; we know it today as the book of Revelation. In it are layers of metaphor and symbolism in an ancient style of writing called, "Jewish Apocalyptic Literature." This letter was written to encourage the persecuted church who'd seen violent and horrific acts perpetrated against it. As we uncover the layers of meaning in Revelation 12, one story seems to be clear, we have a part to play in the nativity story.
Sometimes we wonder why it is hard to worship. We see others who pour their heart out to God in song or in prayer and wonder why our soul feels dry. It just might be the case that in order to find a heart of worship we need to begin with a heart of gratitude. Gratitude transforms our hearts reminding us of who God is and who we are. King David demonstrates this throughout many of the Psalms, that his greatest moments of worship begin and end with gratitude.
Practicing gratitude is important for the health and wellness of our communities and our own mental health. Gratitude is the act of beholding an object for the purpose of appreciating it within the context of your experience. When we practice gratitude regularly it warms our affections toward the things we experience, and builds a vision of hope in us, all by God's design.
Jesus’ disciples devoted their lives to building up the church, modeling the values and patterns of healthy discipleship. In this week’s message, we conclude our discipleship series with a focus on the final phrase in our definition of a disciple: Strengthening God’s Church. This commitment is foundational to Price Chapel’s core values: Worshipping God, Biblical teaching and preaching, Fellowship as family, Investing in the next generation, and Sending disciples to share Jesus locally, regionally, and globally.
Disciples of Jesus continue following him by sharing the good news of the gospel message. As his followers we are witness of God's grace and power in our lives and so we share it with others. There are three steps to sharing the gospel. First, we need to understand the gospel message. Second, we must be clothed with the power of God. And third, we must be willing to embrace the risk.
In the Gospel of Luke, three different men come to Jesus with a desire to follow him, yet Jesus turns them away, each for a different reason. There is a cost to discipleship that we often don't consider. What will it cost? For some it's their sense of security, for others the priority of relationships, and still for others its time. Regardless the cost, following Jesus yields a life marked by increased joy, hope, and purpose.
Discipleship is a core aspect of being a Christian. A disciple is someone who loves God and others by following Jesus, sharing the gospel, and strengthening God's church. So much of the Bible and Jesus' own teaching is on the topic of relating to others. We often lack empathy for others because we are overwhelmed by the size of the problem. But as we follow Jesus, our capacity grows and his disciples are marked by empathy and compassion for others.
Disciples are marked by a radical love for God. But, our capacity to become disciples hinges more on our desire to obey than our desire to learn. In Luke's gospel we see glimpses of Jesus calling Levi to join the twelve. In Levi's story we see the markers of true discipleship based on radical love: leaving everything behind, celebrating Jesus, inviting friends to the table, and repentance.
The call to be a disciple of Jesus is the greatest honor you can receive. A disciple is someone who loves God and others by following Jesus, sharing the gospel, and strengthening God's church. Our goal in the church is to be a community with a disciple-making culture as Jesus commands in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).
Election season is a particularly challenging time in church and public life due to the rhetoric that political campaigns employ to win citizens' votes. God's people have a long entangled history with political parties, politicians, and policies because Christian faith speaks into so many matters of public life. From the last few election cycles here are 5 lessons to guide your political engagement this election season.
How do we get where we want to be when it comes to honoring God financially? It begins by creating margin in our lives. Margin-less living is what causes the strain and stress of life whether financially or relationally. Without margin, it is difficult to respond to God's calling in our lives and meet the needs of those He has put in our lives. We can achieve this margin by adjusting our financial pie chart; creating space in how we spend on living, giving, owing (debt), owing (taxes), and growing categories.
There are 5 competing priorities for the use of our money; Live, Give, Owe (debt), Owe (taxes), Grow. When anyone becomes dominant over the others our finances veer into unhealthy places. In the push and pull that happens in our financial management our relationship with God and being good stewards of the resources he has blessed us with always centers us squarely in healthy fiscal wisdom.
There are 4 Hs in financial wisdom. This week we focus on Habits and the 5 Biblical principles to forming healthy habits that offer guardrails to frivolous or irresponsible spending. These habits create buffer in our lives when our wants go beyond our means and they break the power that money has over our lives; so that it serves us rather than the reverse.
The Bible talks a lot about money; in fact, 11 of Jesus' 39 parables touch on finances. Meaning, how we handle our money is a discipleship issue if we are going to be followers of Jesus. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus teaches that where your treasure is your heart will be also (Matthew 6:21). This is because money can become a spiritual stronghold in our lives hindering growth in our journey towards living and being like Jesus. This series will deal with the Four Hs of financial wisdom and today we begin with the heart, looking at the perspectives we have on our finances.
Moses passes the baton of leadership to his willing and competent younger assistant, Joshua. Passing the baton of leadership is a challenge for any family, organization or country. What qualities qualified Joshua for leadership? Moses recognized Joshua's faith, his hunger, and his maturity.
Twice the Israelites confront Moses questioning God's provision in the desert, specifically about water. On each occasion Moses cries out to the Lord and God gives instructions. Comparing and contrasting these experiences gives us insight into our own struggles and how we engage with God. These stories demonstrate that we honor the holiness of God by trusting in His methods of provision. God provides, but not always as we expect.
At a pivotal moment in Israel's history God gives Moses the Ten Commandments. This set of laws contain the building blocks of a healthy public life. Each command brings with it an expectation of what could be if we choose to heed God's wisdom for mankind.
You would think being delivered out of slavery would bring a sense of freedom and joy, a timed marked by celebration and exuberance, but the Hebrew camp is filled with grumblings and discontent. We all have bittersweet times in our lives, moments marked by joy and pain. These moments reveal the true condition of our souls and the temptation is to project this discontentment onto the leaders in our lives; whether spiritual leaders, employers, or political leaders. It's here where we need to examine our hearts for this bitterness and allow Jesus to be our hope and source of life, love and compassion for ourselves and others.
Moses encounters God at the burning bush and walks away with the calling of leadership on his life. Moses' identity appears to be in shambles after half a life of not finding a foundation to rest it on. As God places the mantle of leadership on him Moses squirms under the weight of the task by seemingly disqualifying himself for the role. Then he turns his questions of identity inside out, asking God for his name; and the I AM responds with profound depth and cultural insight, cutting to the core of Moses' struggle and revealing the importance of God's with-ness with him.
Moses is one of the greatest figures in Biblical history. He's revered in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Very little is written on his early life, yet, these years appear to have set the stage for the character he would need in leading God's people out of slavery in Egypt to the boarder of the Promised Land.
Jesus turns two disciple's world upside down when he appears to them on Easter Sunday. They were understandably confused bye the weekends events, having thought that the Messiah was now dead. Then Jesus shows up in their midst and unveils the work that God had been doing throughout Israel's history to bring them precisely to this moment and their eyes are opened. Luke masterfully tells this story using a literary device to highlight key themes in the passage and if we're paying attention, it should leave us in wonder and awe at the ways God works in our lives.
Jesus had one disciple that every gospel mentions in the Easter story. This disciple became known in church tradition as the "Apostle to the Apostles." Who was it? Mary of Magdala. Much has been speculated about her place among Jesus' disciples and she's even inspired some fantastical fictional works. So, what do we learn from her story, about her attitude and posture in faith?
On Palm Sunday Jesus enters Jerusalem on a donkey to the praises and hallelujahs of the crowds of people hoping for a political savior. But the way Jesus enters reveals a humility filled with symbolism for the death he would experience on the cross. The perfect pascal lamb sacrificed for the sin of the world.
Humanity has a big problem. Many people hate their life. For them life is a tormenting slog. But God didn't save humanity so that we could have a miserable life. John 10:10 reveals the Jesus came that we may have life to the full. So, how do we understand this gift of eternal life that Jesus gives? And what does it mean to walk with Jesus into eternity?
John, the Apostle, refers to the anointing that believers have received. What is this biblical idea? What benefit does it have to the believer and the church? And should we seek to be anointed? All important questions for understanding how to walk as Jesus did with the power of God.
The writer of 1 John discusses the role of both small "t" truth and big "T" Truth in our faith. Walking in Truth starts with an honesty about who we are and where we're at. Once we have the baseline of honesty, then we need to apply the truth of what we need. The result of honest application of truth in our lives, we find the promise and hope of a heart at peace.
John circles around the topic of God and love many times in his letters. How does God demonstrate His love for us and how does that influence the ways that we love others, reflecting God's character in our world. Pastor Steve unpacks 4 steps to walking in love from 1 John.
John's letter to the churches demonstrates his care for their walk with the Lord. John writes his themes in rippling circular thinking. This results in a repetitive, but vital read to those who give their ear. Playing on the ancient Biblical theme of "walking with the Lord," John gives us special insight into the joy that is found when we stay in step with God.
What is the End Game of the Biblical story? What is God's intention with humanity after the resurrection? The Bible uses a lot of imagery when describing our future hope. The climax of the Biblical story is Jesus returning to earth to reign forever.
The question "What happens when I die?" is one that conjures ideas of fear, anxiety and mystery. The Bible does not seek to satiate our desire to know what happens on the other side of our last breath, but it does offer us a glimpse into a small handful of details about the Intermediate State; between death, and resurrection and final judgement. The important piece to our search for answers to this question is ultimately our trust in Jesus' control and love.
We think we can predict who will be welcomed into heaven and who will be rejected. But, who will be in heaven will most likely surprise you. Jesus tells his audience 3 parables that refer to who will be accepted into the Kingdom of Heaven and it just might challenge our assumptions.
The way Christians talk about heaven gives the impression that we will experience one day in the future, likely after we die. Scripture offers an unexpected picture of this heaven we look forward to, indicating that we can have access now. Through Jesus, we can have access to the riches of heaven now.
Much of what we know about heaven are ideas that we've picked up from bits of the Bible, bits of culture, bits of sayings that bring comfort when loved ones pass. But what does the Bible really say about this place? What view of heaven should we have? This series seeks to answer some of those questions helping us understand what scripture teaches us about this mysterious place.
Though the title leads us to an inaccurate understanding of the Magi, the carol "We Three Kings", gives us an opportunity to discover deeper prophetic meaning of the gifts the Magi bring to young Jesus and his family. There is much that we don't know about the Magi and their famous trip to Palestine to visit Mary & Joseph, but what we do have from the stories in Matthew's gospel reveal a God that was both at once thrilled and at work in the world.
O Holy Night is a revered song for its musical movements and the deep theology of its message. It has inspired worship in the hearts of its listeners for years. The song's power rests in the dual themes it calls its audience to understand; namely, God's love and God's justice. The more we allow these two themes to resonate within our lives the more we participate in the actions the author calls us to: to fall on our knees in worship; to hear with an open heart; to give God the praise he is due; and to proclaim God's love and justice in our world.
The carol, "O Little Town Of Bethlehem" written by a pastor in XXXX after spending Christmas in the town of Bethlehem. From this unique perspective the last verse commissions us to pray 4 prayers: that Jesus would defend to us, that he would cast out our sin, that he would be born in us, and that he would abide with us. All reminders to deepen our walk with the Lord this holiday season.
The carol, "Joy To The World" is a song that speaks to the incredible joy that we have in Jesus. The advent season reminds us of the period of waiting Israel endured as they expected their coming Messiah. Today we can enter into the same anticipation as we find joy in waiting for the return of Christ.
We apologize for technical difficulties that resulted in a poor recording of this service.
"Hark the Herald Angels Sing," written by Charles Wesley in 1739, announces through its melody and lyrics who Jesus is; the Savior. Drawing on Biblical passages that speak to Jesus' nature, it explores in worship the breadth of understanding we have about the mystery of the incarnation.
The last Sunday in November marks the beginning of the Advent Season, where we turn our attention to the anticipation and expectation of the birth of the Messiah. This Advent season we're exploring the worship inspired by the Christmas story. We're diving into the history, the theology, and the meaning behind these beloved Christmas Carols. O Come O Come Emmanuel is perhaps one of the oldest carols we sing and it leads us through its melody and lyrical themes into a place of yearning and expectation. And if we give it space in our lives, it will begin to shape our spiritual walks as we step into the themes of this song
Looking to the Bible's creation story to answer questions of "how" can generate some interesting conversations. However, this story is more interested in answering the "why" questions regarding our existence and relationship with the infinite Creator-God. The Biblical account reads more like the lyrics of poetry and song, so what does that mean for our interpretation of these events?
People come to the Bible with all sorts of expectations. This week Pastor Steve takes a look at some of the "Frequently Asked Questions" about one of the most widely read books of all time.
The chapter and verse breakdown of scripture has served the church for centuries to help us navigate the Holy Bible. However, the addition of these details and others, like study notes, have distracted from the core stories of scripture. When we "versify" the Bible we can easily divorce passage from their contextual meaning and the message they were intended to communicate. So how do we recapture the message of scripture?
Guess speaker Pastor Destined Wright shares a reflection from Psalm 23 pointing us to our relationship with Jesus.
What do we do when we don't feel close to God. Often there is this feeling of distance that occurs and we wonder what it will take to find God again. Whatever the reason for feeling distant from God, there is hope of rekindling the relationship we do desperately need. Discover the roadmap for how we make our way back to the presence of the Lord.
Mother's, and women as a whole, play a critical part in representing the image of God. There is uniqueness in the way that men and women represent God's design for humanity and only together do we represent God's image well.
Every year Price Chapel family shares reports and ministry updates as well as votes for various governing body positions.
Body Life Sunday is when we celebrate the stories of what God is doing in and through Price Chapel. On Body Life Sunday we welcome New Members, Dedicate Babies, and Celebrate Baptisms. All are best experienced in person or by viewing our Sunday Live Stream which is available during our 11AM service or afterward at pricechapel.org or on our Facebook Page.
What a profound thing it is to read of Jesus' prayer for us today. Wrapped within it are 2 main concerns that Jesus asks God the Father for. First, that believers would have complete unity with one another, as God the Father and God the Son share. Second, that this unity among believers would be a testimony to the world about the gospel message. Reading these words, it is incumbent upon Jesus' followers to take him seriously; that if we want to see Jesus' glory, then we need to make Jesus' reconciliation our priority.
It is unusual for a person in power to set aside their power and authority. Yet, the one who has all power and authority in heaven and on earth lays aside his eternal glory so that we might experience eternal life. Then, when we look to an authority other than Jesus we experience an inferior life. We must understand that Jesus is the Father's gift to us (John 3:16), but that we, also, are the Father's gift to his Son (John 17:2).
The Holy Spirit, the Holy Ghost, the Paraklete, the Advocate, all names given to the promised one to continue the work of Jesus in through the Church. Jesus tells his disciples of the role of the Holy Spirit. How the encouragement of the Advocate gives us the courage to speak into a world gone wrong.
During Jesus' last week before crucifixion his disciples have the awful realization he is leaving them. So, Jesus comforts them with the words found in John 15, "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first." These words might not seem comforting, but hidden within them, and this passage, is a promise; that the victory we have in Christ is worth the pain of being hated. Life with the resurrected Jesus brings joy and peace in the midst of the pain and discomfort we experience as his followers in this world.
Our beliefs about heaven impact the way we live on earth. Jesus instructed his disciples about life after death using language that we can easily misunderstand today. Jesus uses language of ancient betrothal and marriage to illustrate that our hope isn't in one day living in the Father's house in heaven, but in joining the father's house today!
As Jesus sits with his disciples around the passover meal during his last week scripture says that he loved them "To The End." In a practical expression of his love, Jesus flips the cultural understanding of power on its head by washing his disciples' feet teaching them that whoever wants to be great must first be a servant of others.
Jesus life was lived in a poured out way for all human kind. Fear of what others will think keeps us from living in a poured out way. When we live as Jesus did, with a faith that pours out, we drench fear in love.
Guest Speaker Ray Jones explores the story of Simeon in the Christmas narrative. One who waited patiently and expectantly to hold Salvation in his arms. Simeon's relationship with God allowed the Holy Spirit to overshadow him, to use him and lead him and gave him something to say about the coming life and death of Jesus.
Biblical principles often strike against our intuition and nowhere is it more true than in our understanding of power and control. In the Christmas story the God of all creation reveals himself as an infant. All the authority in the universe clothed in vulnerability. What a paradox?
The Christmas story is the story of ordinary people being overshadowed by an extraordinary God. Zechariah in the story is visited by an angel who foretells the coming of his own son, John the Baptist. When the time comes for him to be born, Zechariah is filled with the spirit and sings of praise and has something to say about the coming salvation God promised his people. What happens when God has something for us to say?
The Christmas story is the story of ordinary people being overshadowed by an extraordinary God. Before Jesus is born Mary visits her cousin, Elizabeth. When the two meet face to face the two are overshadowed by God's spirit of joy. Elizabeth, also pregnant, is filled with the Holy Spirit. In God overshadowing Elizabeth she is an encouragement to Mary, she is able to discern what God is doing through the events that unfold in the narrative, and she is able to raise her own son, John, though she is advanced in age.
The Christmas story is the story of ordinary people being overshadowed by an extraordinary God. The Holy Spirit "overshadows" Mary so that the child she brings forth in an embodiment of creative holiness, the word made flesh. In the Christmas story we discover The Holy Spirit makes the impossible possible; He exalts the humble and lowly; and works in the person surrendered to God's will.
Today was International Worker Update Sunday. I am excited to share with you what our missionaries have been up to. We apologize for the livestream glitch earlier this morning, here's the content from our service today.
Paul gives us the formula for "Great Gain" in 1 Timothy 6; Godliness + Contentment = Great Gain. If contentment is part of our walk with God, how do we experience it. Being a people of gratitude requires of us an attitude of contentment and satisfaction regardless our circumstances because in Christ we have more than we could ever need. Contentment is the antidote to the disease of more.
We rarely stop to reflect on what we're thankful for. Rather, often, we think about what has gone wrong, what is going wrong and what might go wrong. If we want to be a people marked by thankfulness then gratitude starts with developing habits of thankfulness.
We want to be known for having an attitude of gratitude. Gratitude is the quality of being thankful; and a readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. If we want to be a people of gratitude then the starting place is experiencing God's grace.
Scripture uses language to describe a system of ideas, values, morals, practices and social norms that are integrated into mainstream culture and corrupted by the twin sins of rebellion against God and the redefinition of good and evil and calls it, "The World." (Live No Lies, by John Mark Comer). The Church must be a counter-cultural community of redemption in order to bring hope and healing into the world. And we do this, by living differently.
The desires of the flesh continually pull us away from God's presence, away from true freedom. The key to remaining in God's presence and finding freedom is Spiritual Formation. Spiritual Formation changes what we can control (our habits) to influence what we cannot control (our flesh).
Our peace is destroyed by three ever persistent enemies; The Devil, The Flesh, & The World. The lies we believe rob us of peace in our lives; and Jesus, himself, refers to the Devil as the 'Father of Lies.' "Our battle with the devil is first and foremost a fight to take back the control of our minds from their captivity to lies and liberate them with the weapon of truth."
Resources: "Live No Lies: Recognize and resist Three Enemies That Sabotage Your Peace" by John Mark Comer
People argue over religion all the time. In Jesus day, leaders argued about who would be saved. Was it just the Jews or was it bigger than one people group? Jesus challenges the religious leaders, and our, assumptions calling us to make every effort to really know God. Because Jesus taught, it turns out, that those who are saved by Jesus are the ones known by Jesus. This is the narrow way.
We live noisy lives in a noisy world. The spiritual practice of silence and solitude is like an antidote to the overwhelming nature of the noise in our lives. Even Jesus practiced solitude and silence regularly to experience deep communion with the Father. In practicing silence we truly begin to hear.
Spiritual practices are designed to agitate our lives to redirect our hearts and minds toward God. What better way to upset the normal than changing our diet for a season. Fasting is the practice of abstaining from food for spiritual purposes. How can God use shape you through fasting?
Spiritual Practices make us uncomfortable because they put us in positions to examine why we are comfortable. The practice of Confession makes us confront the sin that is present in our lives and bring it to light so that we may align ourselves with God's standard.
Finishing well is harder than it sounds. Elijah remained faithful even in the midst of trials, setbacks and discouragement. Finishing well should be the goal of every Christian.
Biblical justice is not like our value of Justice. In the story of Elijah we learn 5 key lessons about God's view of true justice which challenge our culturally rooted assumptions on the issue.
Elijah becomes discontent with the spiritual state of Israel saying that this next generation is walking away from God. God challenges Elijah's perception showing that there are many in Israel who do and He gives Elijah the gift of Elisha, a young man to train up, to invest in. This changes everything for Elijah.
Elijah experiences the depth of pain and isolation following the events on Mt. Carmel. Elijah comes face to face with depression, anxiety, and loneliness. In his story we see several factors that contribute to his fracturing mental health and how God responds to Elijah's needs.
Elijah emerges from his long season of hiding in desert isolation to confront King Herod in the most spectacular way; a duel of the gods. Israel is in a state of indecision on which god they should follow; Baal, the pagan god of storms and water or Yahweh, the god who brought Israel out of Egypt. It takes a sacrifice on Mt. Carmel to free the people from their enchantment with Baal. Today, it is the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross that frees us from our enchantment with sin so that we can experience the favor of God.
The response from Elijah's first sermon was so violent that God tells him to go and hide in the Keith Ravine. Elijah enters into God's school of preparation where he will learn to trust in God's protection, provision, and providence.
Happy Father's Day! Today we celebrate with a dramatic reading and reflection on Jesus' parable of the Prodigal Son learning of the heart of our Father in heaven.
Conflict arises in the early church over the distribution of aid to widows in the church. How do the Apostles deal with the growing needs of a growing community of believers? How do they address the issues of racial and economic tension? The issue the early church faces and we face today are the problems that arise as the church grows in number and in diversity. The key to taking on these challenges is doing it with Spirit-led administration and wisdom.
The American lifestyle lends itself to comfort. We do everything in our power to avoid pain and suffering. Yet, this leads to a flat Christian experience, one that runs counter to the "Life to the Full" that Jesus describes in John 10:10. Joy in Jesus is depended through suffering for Jesus.
The story of Ananias and Sapphira is tragic. It's the story of a couple in the early church who defrauded this burgeoning movement of Christ followers. It's a story that reveals that when God's church is on the move and attacks from outside the church aren't working the Enemy will bring a threat from inside the church. This is a clear instance of God protecting His church from a threat that would undermine the entire movement, underscoring the truth that integrity matters.
Our disappointment with God often keeps us from coming back to him. What a disappointment it was for Jesus' disciples who watched their master die on a cross. The resurrection story gives us hope because when God doesn't meet our expectations there may be something better waiting. God invites us to come and see the wonderful things he is up to in the midst of our disappointment so that we can go and tell of his good news.
While being worshipped and declared messiah, Jesus is weeping. Not from inflated pride, but in sorrow. Knowing that it was the cross that lie ahead, Jesus' words betray the moment saying, "I wish you knew what would bring you peace." Jesus saw the people straining for peace in all the wrong places, but Jesus wept because they didn't realize he was the peace they were seeking.
Jesus refers to himself as the "vine." This metaphor helps us understand the level at which we're connected to Jesus when we give our lives to him. What does this mean for our prayer life? It permeates everything and that we need to expect God to work in us, through pruning the things that lead to death, and through us in the ways we engage the world around us.
Prayer is our opportunity for communion and communication with God. Jesus gives us to pictures of prayer in Luke 11. One of a nagging neighbor begging for bread and the other of a father giving gifts to his children. Unpacking these two pictures reveals something about the nature of our connection with God and the relationship we can have with Him.
Prayer is our primary connection, the touch point, through which we commune with God. God's design and desire from the beginning was to commune with his creation. And it is no surprise then, when he moves heaven and earth to do just that, meeting mankind in the midst of its sin and depravity. So, why do we treat prayer like it's an inconvenience? When in truth, it is a gift.
The Apostle Paul's last words of his first letter to the church in Corinth hold importance for framing the conversations and topics his letter addresses. An exhortation to the body to guard themselves in the faith, to stand firm, to be courageous, and to do all these in love. Because, as it turns out, love is what undergirds the Christian experience.
The Apostle Paul writes in the letter to the Corinthians church about life after resurrection. How will these work? What will our bodies be like? And what about those who are still alive at the resurrection? These are the mysteries that Paul addresses, though not to our complete satisfaction; because, the point which Paul is trying to make is how we live here and now. He concludes with an encouragement to stand firm and to give themselves to the work of the Lord. How might we do these today?
What do we mean when we talk about heaven? What happens when we die? 1 Corinthians 15 has the longest section in all of scripture discussing this topic. Dive in and discover what does the Bible talk about when it uses words for heaven and unpack with us Paul's words on life after death. Also, during the message we take communion reflecting on the resurrection of Jesus and how it provides the basis for our hope.
Paul addresses, in some confusing language, the issue of women speaking within the church. His words seem to contradict his own actions and accolades of women serving in the church in other cities. What do we make of this? Is there some cultural or linguistic context that we are needing to understand Paul's words to church leaders and women? Pastor Steve unpacks some of the best theories on this topic.
What is love; a great line from a famous song, but its answer is not always so clear. The Bible declares that God is love. When we follow the way of love, it is the pathway to living in God and God living in you. The amazing thing about life with God is that God's character flows through us.
The church in Corinth had an issue with elevating members over one another based on their gifts and abilities. They ranked one another in status. Yet, the Apostle Paul sets out to correct this fallacy showing that in the Kingdom of God there are no such distinctions, but that the body works together, honoring each part and their role.
Being humiliated at the table can be an embarrassing experience. Turns out this was happening regularly around the most important table of all; the communion table. The problem, the wealthy members of the church had inadvertently made the communion table look like Roman hospitality rather than Jesus' counter-cultural crucifixion.
What did Paul mean when he gave rules for head coverings and hair length in the church?
Safety is not a godly virtue. There is wisdom in finding and securing safety; however, when we value it more than our pursuit of God and holiness, then we've fashioned it into an idol. The stories of Job and Esther, respectively, along with many other biblical heroes challenge our value of safety.
King Herod's paranoia and thirst for power led him to be characterized in the Christmas story as a mad-king. But how do mad-kings come to be. We dive into geo-political history of the ancient near east to unpack who Herod was. It is there that we find a nugget of truth regarding our anxieties today.
Anxiety producing fear is present throughout the Christmas story. From fearing relational loss, to fear of a devastated reputation Mary deals with the anxiety produced by fear. Yet, she endures through fear by resting in God's favor.
Anxiety is present throughout the Christmas story. As anxiety is on the rise we turn to the Christmas story an unlikely source of hope for us in the mental health awareness. Here we unpack the story of Zachariah and the gift of silence as a tool to battle the rise of anxiety in our lives.
The Apostle Paul draws from Israel's history to illustrate to the Corinthians church that they are in danger of committing the same sins. This warning even rings true for us today. Yet, there is hope because Israel's story of temptation and rebellion does not have to be our story, thanks to the grace and power of Jesus.
The Corinthian church demonstrates their desire to live as Christ followers in a complex cultural backdrop. Idol worship and sacrifice were prevalent in Corinthian temples and were intertwined with the local economies in the market place. So, they asked Paul, "Can we eat food that was used for sacrifice to idols?" Paul's response sets the tone on how we deal with complex cultural issues and applying a biblical perspective to how we live in the midst of them.
Sifting through the eclectic cultural and linguistic nuances of the Apostle Paul's advice to the Corinthian church regarding marital status and benefits leads to a surprising conclusion about how we treat others in the relationships in which we find ourselves. How do we take Paul's core instruction to honor others?
Often we think we're disqualified from doing great things for God because our past, our stories, prevent us. Yet, even the greatest of leaders from the Bible had checkered pasts. What can we learn from the life of Moses?
The Apostle Paul speaks a counter cultural message to the Corinthian church regarding sexual morality, God's design for sexual intimacy and other culturally acceptable sins. Paul reasons that our bodies are not our own, but that we are joined with Christ. Which means we can't just do anything with them.
Paul highlights the damage that is done to the witness of the Church when disputes between Christians are aired in the public square. Today we learn how to handle conflicts within the church.
Judgement is a topic often associated with God. How do we understand judgement in light of Christ's work on the cross? First we have to dive into the history of the biblical author's understanding unpacking what is the bema seat.
The Apostle Paul encourages the Corinthian church to set aside their selfish ambitions and to invest in the thing that God cares about. What does God care about... the church. We should invest ourselves in the Church because it is what God is building.
There is an important mystery in the Christian experience and that is that we are designed to have the mind of Christ. The reason that there is much division in the Corinthian church is that they have not ascended to this higher level of thinking. Have we done the same by not having the mind of Christ?
The Corinthian church was struggling with division inside with members following Paul as their pastor, or Apollos as their pastor, or Peter. Paul addresses this division pointing to the foolishness of the message of the cross and how vying for power by aligning with this leader or that only creates disunity in the body of Christ.
The church in Corinth experiences the difficulty of finding unity in the church because of diverse backgrounds of it's members. The Apostle Paul, in this pastoral letter, dives into the complex issues the church is facing.
This week our former intern Alisa Tallerico concludes our Intern Teaching Series. She is speaking on the passage 1 John 4:7-21. Fear comes when God's love is absent, but love arrives when God is present. As God's love fills us we can share his love with others, even when it seems impossible to love.
This week our intern Cali Fossat begins our new series, The Intern Teaching Series. She is speaking on the passage 1 John 4:7-21. We will take a look at what kind of Love John is speaking about and dive into what Agape love from God looks like.
Video Credits: “Agape/Love” is © Copyright 2021 by BibleProject and is available for viewing at www.bibleproject.com
Conflict in the public square can be disorienting, like flying through a cloud. The world teaches us to solve our conflicts in ways that only result in shifting the problem. God gives us instruments to fly by in peacemaking that we can engage with others in the love, humility, and compassion of Jesus.
Our conflicts make effective communication difficult. Looking at Jesus' example of communication in the midst of conflict helps us understand how we can better connect with the 'other' in our conflicts.
Emotions flare when we deal with the wounds of conflict. Yet, it's not the emotions that are at the core, it's the way we've handled them. Emotions provide the signals that we need to pay attention to, to uncover the pain and let God work peace in us by His Spirit. Living in God's design for us, gives us a platform of peace on which to stand in the midst of our conflicts.
The violence in our stories halts the peacemaking process. Whether external violence or the internal violence we harbor, we need to acknowledge the violence in our stories if we hope to see the peace of God in our lives and world.
Is peace the absence of conflict? Life is full of conflict. How we approach conflict can change the way we work towards peace. If we shift our expectation to look for God's glory to be revealed through the beauty and diversity uncovered by the conflicts in our lives, then we might just change the way conflicts affect us.
God designed humanity for peace. However, humanity struggles with living in peace because of the threats we perceive and the fear we feel towards others. The heart of the gospel leads us to be at peace with others. Seeing God's peace, in this world, hinges upon us seeing the Image of God in others.
What is the biggest threat to the church? If your answer was "persecution", it may not be historically accurate. Persecution has historically brought the Church together in prayer; made it dependent on God's power; and results in radical selflessness. In Acts 4 Peter & John with the apostles discover how persecution leads to growth.
From the story of John and Peter we learn how followers of Jesus are called to be a disruptive witness in a diabolical world.
God uses the ordinary circumstances of our day to do extraordinary things if we are open to the interruptions that come our way.
In Acts 2 there are 3 distinctives of devoted disciples. How we live as the church today is greatly affected by these values.
What is Speaking in Tongues? Why is it apart of the Christian tradition? Are there dangers to speaking in Tongues?
You can't sit down when God is calling you to stand up. Peter stands up in significant moments in early church history. How is God calling you to stand up?
Pastor Steve shares about where we've been in 2020, "The Covid Year," and where we're going this year. Celebrate with us what God is doing through the Price Chapel family.
The mission of God in this world is still unfinished. We've been called to be part of God's mission to bring his good news to the world.
In Jesus day, the religious leaders feared man more than they feared God. Jesus was raised from the dead so you could be raised from fear.
The image of the donkey is helpful for understanding the symbolism of Jesus' triumphal entry on Palm Sunday.
We all yearn for significance but we also have a need for safety and comfort. What do you value more; living a significant life or a safe life?
Ruth finds herself in a position of vulnerability, a widow in a foreign land. Yet, in this position of need God demonstrates his faithfulness to her and her mother-in-law, Naomi. How can God demonstrate his great love for us in the opportunities that our need presents Him?
It is hard to accept the depths of God's love for us; yet, he calls us his 'beloved.' Pastor Ted Swinburne leads us into exploring God's great love for each of us.
The force of the Gospel Message is external because of the hope that springs from the internal experience with God. We love sending people locally, regionally and globally to spread the good news of Jesus sacrifice for us because we know the hope we have in Him.
God has gifted his people with influence where they are. What are the areas of influence he's given you? Is God using you to raise the temperature of faith with the lives you influence?
Danjuma Alcala is the co-leader of Because He First Loved Us, an Alliance Ministry to Refugees in the Salt Lake Valley. Emile Ndahunga is a newly immigrated refugee who is also a pastor. We are blessed to have them speak to us today about prayer and care for marginalized people.
A person with a well-fed soul who is empowered by the Holy Spirit has the freedom to follow the Spirit.
T'shuvah is the Hebew word for repentance. Repentance is the act of returning to the true path, Jesus.
Prayer is primary in the Alliance family. Join us as we begin a six week series on prayer's internal effects and outward motivations.
Advent - Faithful with Favor - Pastor Steve Swinburne CCLI Streaming License #20171257 . . Click here to give: https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/14029
Everything ends in ruin as the book of Nehemiah draws to a close. From the economic and social disobedience of the Jews to God's instruction we draw today a clearer understanding of our need for an epic savior.
Body Life Sunday - A celebration of membership, baptisms, child dedications and the stories of what God is doing through Price Chapel.
Nehemiah encounters opposition from all sides and demonstrates the 3 essential character qualities for standing against intimidation.
Sacrifice can lead to burn out if we do not heed the warning signs. Living a life that brings pleasure to God includes sacrifice and self-care.
Opposition is to be expected in life. Nehemiah beautifully models how to handle opposition when it causes discouragement, highlighting the unity we have as followers of God.
Legacy matters, but often we put our names on the wrong things; thing that are not important or things that don't last. Yet we have a God who understands that we struggle to leave a good legacy and he intervenes by giving us new hearts set on Spirit-filled discipleship.
It is time to rebuild our lives, our routines, our relationship with God and our church. It’s time to return. It’s time to move forward. It’s time to advance. We can no longer afford the consequences of isolation and departure from our spiritual disciplines of worship. It’s time rebuild.
Paul addresses how contentment and hospitality are the vaccine to the pandemic of greed that is pervasive in the economies of the world.
Jesus often teaches on money and the heart. Jesus' messages speak to us today as we handle our money and our hearts.
The Bible speaks about money and economics more than any other topic other than God. Discover how the economy of God's people (Israel) was supposed to be different from the economy of Pharaoh (Egypt).
We spend a lot of time talking about the character of God, but not the nature of God. We speak about God’s goodness, holiness, truth, life, justice, and love. This is good. But we often pick the virtues that we like and ignore the others. We need to back-up and start with God’s nature. When we understand God’s nature we are more likely to understand his character.
The things lurking in the attics of our lives keep us from going deeper with God and others. They effect our identities and need to be addressed before causing further damage.
Jesus shares the parable of the hidden treasure and the merchant and the pearl. The question that arises is whether we believe and trust that the Kingdom of God is worth every dollar.
In Jesus' parables of the mustard seed and of the yeast are hidden some important truths about growth. Kingdom growth is experienced in power, justice, peace and joy.
Who do we give the authority to author our story? The church of Laodecia in Revelation chapter 3 has their story dismantled by Jesus and asks them to receive the story he wants to write for them. Jesus is the only one worthy to author our story.
Jesus' words to the church in Philadelphia provide insight into how we can navigate times of turbulence.
We can be part of a movement of multiplying discipleship if we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us.
The disruption and discomfort of being de-programmed is exactly when we should be listening for the voice of God. The Church in Sardis, had gotten comfortable and needed a wake up call from Jesus, calling them back to an understanding of the basics of Christian life and faith. Jesus had to disrupt the church.
Does your reputation match your reality? Jesus calls the church of Sardis to "Wake Up!" to the reality that their reputation didn't match their reality. The first step to becoming alive in Jesus is waking up to reality.
The Shunamite woman shows the heart of faithfulness to God. She is an example to us of how to navigate challenging times by faith and grow.
We all want to know who we are and where we have come from. Our world is full of lies about who we are. Our passage this Sunday will give us clarity in the midst of confusion.
Jesus' words to the church in Smyrna hold important words for us in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond about fear, peace and wisdom.
We need to hear from heaven! In the apocalyptic book of Revelation, Jesus has some important words for the seven churches in Asia minor. The church in Ephesus is charged to remember their first love, God.
Grieving loss forces us to slow down and see the things that God has for us in the moment. In Mary's grief she became the first person entrusted with the news of Jesus' resurrection. Taking time to grieve helps us recognize God's presence is with us in the world and His call to bring reconciliation and restoration to all His creation.
In this season the Art of Biblical Lament will give perspective on the things lost as we wait through this difficult season.
Pastor Steve Interviews Pastor Alex on the sabbatical lessons he learned during his season of rest and renewal.
Let's be honest . . . sometimes God just doesn't make sense. This Sunday we're going to be talking about what to do when it seems like God is late. The truth is that with God, the waiting season does not have to be a wasted season. Join us at Pastor Steve speaks from John 11 and the story of Lazarus.
This weekend we are privileged to have Gil Blanco with us. We have recently started a new missions partnership with Gil and his team in Mexicali, Mexico. In May we will be sending a short-term missions team to Mexicali. Join us this weekend and hear about how you can be part of this new adventure!
Some bible stories need to be rescued from the caricature they have been reduced to in children's bible lessons. Jonah is one of those stories. It isn't a cartoon about a whale. It is a story for adults that is full of satire, sarcasm, and sophisticated messages. It is a story that confronts the worst aspects of our human nature.
Some bible stories need to be rescued from the caricature they have been reduced to in children's bible lessons. Jonah is one of those stories. It isn't a cartoon about a whale. It is a story for adults that is full of satire, sarcasm, and sophisticated messages. It is a story that confronts the worst aspects of our human nature.
Every human being has limited time and limited energy. There is often more that we would like to do and accomplish than we have time and energy for. All of us have been given the same amount of time. We have 24 hours in every day. But we have differing levels of energy and ability. Because we have limited time and energy it is impossible to meet the needs and expectations of everyone around us. This Sunday we will be talking about how to receive the gift of limits.
We believe it is impossible to become spiritually healthy while remaining emotionally unhealthy. This Sunday we will be talking about the importance of looking back in order to move forward.
We believe it is not possible to be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature.
Cali Fossat shares a mini message, and then Steve and Alex share what to expect from Alex's Sabbatical.
Imagine you are in Bethlehem on that first Christmas. What do you see? What do you hear? What do you smell? What do you feel? May you see, hear, smell, and feel Jesus the Messiah today!
Every town is known for something. Bethlehem was known for Sheep and Shepherds. Find out why that is important for our lives today.
Hear from the Holy Land Team about their experiences at different sites in the Holy Land and how God spoke to them in those places.
Pastor Steve will be sharing a message about the end of King David's life and how to teach the next generation to walk faithfully with God. We will be watching a short film from the Our Stories series. (link below)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3na62aDsuSE&list=PLrzwIBC7bYfm0c2R8B1XPhjp5N6umSCdK&index=2&t=0s
Join us for a message from Renee' Swinburne on Overcoming Failure. We will be looking at an epic story from the life of David in 2 Samuel 6.
We'll be learning about the history of Jerusalem and God's future promise of a new Jerusalem.
This Sunday we'll be looking at a scene from the life of David where a group of 400 malcontents are transformed into mighty men. We will also be sharing in communion together.
One of the difficult realities of life is navigating transitions, knowing what to do when you feel stuck in the middle or torn between two options. How do you navigate the in-between?
Everyone loves David. How can we create space for the "David's" in our lives to do great things?
He is one of the most complex, confusing, and captivating people in the bible. We will find his story speaking to our stories in so many ways.
Called to Regions Beyond by, serving communities, multiplying church networks, developing people.
Are you ready for a storm? This Sunday we'll be finishing the Sermon on the Mount series with Jesus' teaching on how to be prepared for the storms of life.
Jesus said to in Matthew 7:13-14 that only the small gate and narrow road lead to life. What did he mean by this? What is the narrow road?
Worry, anxiety and fear are perhaps the greatest challenges facing us today. The plan of the enemy seems to be to sideline the followers of Jesus with worry, fear and social anxiety. It's time to fight back! This Sunday we'll learn a strategy for turning worry into worship. Jesus has a lot to say about this in Matthew 6:25-34.
Follow the money! When we follow the money we discover all sorts of motives, schemes and shady activity. Jesus taught in Matthew 6:19-24 that if we follow our money we will find our heart.
Fasting is an ancient practice that draws us closer to God as it engages our entire bodies in a spiritual experience.
Our prayer and faith can easily become like a Reality TV Show. Today we'll be looking at Jesus' teaching on prayer from Matthew 6:5-15 to see His vision of prayer and faith.
We live in a world with enemy lists, trolling, online bullying and tweet storms! In this midst of this culture what does it mean to love our enemies?
We encounter conflict. Some handle it better than others. Yet, how we make peace in the midst of life's conflicts is a marker of the Christian life.
Matthew 5:31-32 reveals the heart of God in marriage as Jesus teaches on divorce and remarriage in the Sermon on the Mount.
Guest Speaker, Mike Metzger dives deep into Jesus' teaching on lust and adultery from Matthew 5, taking a hard look at personal topics.
Jesus talks about murder, anger and reconciliation. How to handle anger in a healthy way, especially that anger that brews just below the surface.
In our youth it is difficult to understand Mom's rules. Yet, as we grow into our own families we discover the wisdom behind Mom's rules. If we begin to see scripture in the same way, we can start to understand the wisdom and the heart of God.
Jesus said in Matthew 5:14-16 that his disciples are "the light of the world." What does that mean in 2019? Is it helpful to associate light with good and dark with evil?
Starting in Matthew 5:13, Jesus begins to teach on the BIG Stuff. He tells his disciples they are "the salt of the earth." Find out what that means for today.
On Resurrection Sunday the tombstone became the rolling stone. Jesus is still in the business of rolling stones!
We often look for people who will encourage or at least turn a blind eye to our unhealthy habits and ways. This creates a culture of enabling and co-dependence. Find out how Jesus views unhealthy habits from Luke 6:17-26.
Christians are the most persecuted group on the planet. In the U.S. we experience more pressure than violent persecution. Jesus said in Matthew 5:10-12 that we are blessed when we are persecuted. Discover how to live under opposition for your faith.
Though seen as cowards and traitors, peacemakers follow God in bringing wholeness to a broken world through the radical love of their enemies.
Mercy is not just kindness, but it brings health to the soul. Discover God's design for mercy in your life and how it blesses those who give it.
Jesus is calling us to a fuller understanding of what it means to be meek and to wrestle with the implications of meekness in a world of controlled through an imbalance of power. Discover how the rebirth of this virtue is exactly what we need for this day.
One of the greatest difficulties is getting past the sin issues in our lives when we haven't mourned over it. How to find God's comfort when mourning over sin.
How's your attitude? Religion focuses on building walls to keep people out, discover how to focus on becoming people who are building bridges to invite people into the family of God through these core teachings of Jesus.
Wisdom is unveiled in the unexpected places. The Prophet Anna, who spoke over Jesus when he was dedicated in the Temple as a baby, embodies a biblical posture of expectant patience.
One simple line in the Christmas story reveals the wise character of Mary. Discover how one simple action can begin to shine the light of wisdom in your life.
The 3 Wise Men gave gifts to God but the 3 Wise Women received gifts from God. But what can we learn from the ancient wisdom of the 3 Wise Women in the Christmas Story?
Will this world ever get better? What gives us hope in the midst of suffering? Discover a hope in the midst of despair.
Do we worship God how we should? Worship that is badly formed leaves us vulnerable to a world filled with hurt and pain. Discover how worship is not just for expressing ourselves, but is used by God to form us.
In Exodus 3, Moses stands on Holy Ground before God, manifest as the burning bush. What is Holy? What makes something or someone holy? It might be different than you think.
What is Holy? What makes something or someone holy? It might be different than you think.
There are times when hope seems lost. Guest Speaker, Jana Metzger, shares, how Jesus demonstrates that even the most extreme cases of hopelessness can be redeemed.
You will experience misplaced hope when you align with the wrong promises and purposes for your life.
Jesus wasn't afraid to protest injustice, corruption and greed. In John 2:13-25 Jesus doesn't like what he finds in the temple. Discover what it means for us in today's political climate.
The idea of kissing Jesus might make you uncomfortable, but Jesus praises a woman who washes his feet with her tears and can't stop kissing them. Why? What does this woman's example reveal about our heart before Jesus?
Jesus had a bad habit of eating good food with bad people. What does it look like to follow in Jesus' footsteps today?
Jesus scandalously violated social taboos to reach out to those marginalized culturally, economically, religiously and morally. In John 4 a woman and Jesus have a not-so-innocent conversation at the town watering hole.
Often our life plans get disrupted, confused and we get disoriented, trying to find what's next. Detours leave us with questions, in need of clearer direction. Where do we turn? Can we have confidence? Find answers in Paul's Damascus road journey.
What insight does Philip's journey with the Ethiopian have for us today? How is it that when we reach out to God we find God reaching out to us?
We're starting the journey in Luke 24:13-35 with the Emmaus Road Trip. What if Jesus interrupted your trip with a life-changing encounter?
When's the last time you really prayed? Prayer is for the bold. Unpack a 3 Fold Rhythm for prayer that will change the way you pray.
Many things rob us of the peace that we want. Unleash the peace of Christ in your life through thankfulness and gratitude.
Christian faith is often seen as restricting, but Jesus’ sacrifice promises freedom. Discover how being in the presence of God unleashes the freedom the soul longs for.
God spoke through shadows but now he speaks through the full reality of Jesus. If you've wondered how to interpret the Old Testament this sermon will be for you!
The Cross is the greatest plot twist of all time. Discover 3 ways that Jesus twisted the plot on the cross from Colossians 2:1-15. This Gospel message could be their moment to encounter salvation through Jesus.
Why is the Dove the symbol of the Holy Spirit? Discover the imagery at play in this metaphor and what it means for you.
How can we help kids encounter God? Our very own Jana Metzger speaks on investing in the next generation.
Why is our world so fractured and divided? Are we called to be avengers in our broken world?
Your purpose for life will determine the outcome of your life. The outcome of your life will determine the legacy of your life. The legacy of your life will determine the purposes of life for the next generation.
There are so many competing visions of reality. When we buy into the wrong vision of reality we end up living for the wrong things.