It seems as if the “more the world changes, the more it stays the same.” Novelty can’t shift the perennial problems of human nature and society. What is really “new” in our old world as we approach our new year? The scriptures claim that Jesus inaugurated a new era in human history, a new kingdom, in which a new sort of life would become available. Using 2 Peter, along with a few passages from 1 Peter we’ll explore this claim. There is a new power, a new legacy, a new freedom, a new hope, a new generosity, and a new endurance we can experience this year.
A willingness to encounter and befriend non-Christians means a willingness to understand and address their questions. Jesus never resisted questions and neither must we. But some questions are difficult, and in this series we examine the hardest challenges to Christian faith in our current culture. The devotions, sermons, and forums will be an invitation to discussion.
Each of us has an opportunity in partnership with God, to change the trajectory of someone's life, helping them discover the joy God intends them to know through faith. Each one can reach one. Through the dynamism of the Spirit, those we touch, bless and encourage will do the same for others. This sermon series is meant to help you in your outreach to others.
This August we begin a five week sermon series that examines the challenge of keeping our promises in marriage covenants. It is called Best. Marriage. Ever. We will learn from some of the scriptures most famous couples, including Adam and Eve, Abraham, and Sarah, Jacob, Leah, and Rachel, Moses and Zipporah, and Joseph and Mary. The world's most famous single advisor on marriage, of course, is Jesus. He will figure prominently as well.
How do we authenticate a genuine Christian life? What are the marks that distinguish a true disciple from an imitation? How does real faith mark our lives and our characters?
These are questions that we will be exploring during Lenten sermon series, Marked. Each week we'll explore one mark in our Sunday sermons and then have an opportunity to engage with it through our devotionals and discuss it during our Wednesday night adult classes.
Welcome to 2022! We are going to focus on each week on a different grace practice. The goal of the Christian life is to become, every day, more like Jesus: holier, happier, and deeper. This requires a set of habits we can employ each day. That is the way to become "Everyday Saints."
What do Alvin and the Chipmunks, Elvis Presley, Paul McCartney, Bing Crosby, Mariah Carey, and Bruce Springsteen all have in common? They all recorded songs that are part of our new Series! We will contrast one classic secular tune with a corresponding biblical theme.
Our individual experience of the season, like our individual experience of the season, like our individual experience of our faith, can be shallow and profound, intensely meaningful and utterly trivial. Often deep human longings and persistent questions reflected in the songs we sing and in the art we create. With the arrival of Jesus, God enters into our story to reshape those longings and answer those questions.
The greatest metaphor for the church is the “Body of Christ.” This fall, we will explore how we can build-up that body in a time when there is such a high level of division and conflict in our society and culture. Together we can bring the reconciliation God intends to the communities where we live, work, and play!