One-Track Mind - "Life Together"
We have way too much confidence in ourselves. We think we can make it through life on our own. But we will never become all we are meant to be on our own. In every area of life, we need others around us to make us better. And the same is true when it comes to following Jesus. The life of faith is inherently cooperative.
One-Track Mind - "Devoted to God's Word"
When faced with difficulty and hardship we usually resort to best practices, ingenuity, and inner strength to achieve success and prosperity. But what God shows us repeatedly in the Scriptures is that God’s work is fueled by devotion to God’s Word.
One-Track Mind - "Singlemindedness"
We often resolve to be different because we feel dissatisfied with ourselves. But resolutions--and any change really--should be birthed from a profound sense of identity, not a feeling of dissatisfaction with our lives at the moment. We need to ask bigger questions, like, Who am I? Who has God designed me to be? What was I made to do? What’s my vision for my life?
Darkness Then Light - "Awake, O Sleeper!"
Sometimes it’s our inner darkness that haunts us the most. Those things that only we know about and hold in our hearts, that reply in our minds and make us feel embarrassed and ashamed all over again. As real as that darkness is, the good news of the incarnation is that God sees us, knows us, and holds us, even in our darkest places.
Darkness Then Light - "Darkness Is as Light with You"
Sometimes it’s our inner darkness that haunts us the most. Those things that only we know about and hold in our hearts, that reply in our minds and make us feel embarrassed and ashamed all over again. As real as that darkness is, the good news of the incarnation is that God sees us, knows us, and holds us, even in our darkest places.
Darkness Then Light - “Established with Righteousness and Justice”
Oftentimes the darkness of the present seems all-consuming. But the good news of Advent is that no matter how dark the present, Jesus is eternally the Light of the world!
Darkness Then Light - "Light Dawns in the Darkness"
Oftentimes the darkness of the present seems all-consuming. But the good news of Advent is that no matter how dark the present, Jesus is eternally the Light of the world!
Vintage Gospel II - "Thirst No More!"
Many of us grew up hearing the stories of the Old Testament, thinking the main characters were heroes that we were meant to emulate. To have faith like Abraham, to be loyal like Ruth, or to be a man after God’s own heart like David. But this is not how the stories are meant to be read. If you read the OT this way, you'll end up thinking all you need is help instead of a Savior. See, the stories of the Old Testament are really all telling one story, the story of humanity’s failure and God sending his Son as the Savior we all need. Jesus said to the Pharisees, the elite studiers of the OT of his day: John 5:39 [39] You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me. Jesus and his disciples saw Scripture as the unfolding of the story of God rescuing his people, and therefore that he, Jesus, was the key to interpreting it.
And so, over the next 7 weeks we are going to start part 2 of a series called “Vintage Gospel” in which we’ll be looking at a number of figures and stories from the Old Testament to see how Jesus and the gospel are patterned, promised, and present there. We hope you’ll join us as we learn how to better read our Bibles together!
Vintage Gospel II - "The Transforming Nature of God's Presence"
Many of us grew up hearing the stories of the Old Testament, thinking the main characters were heroes that we were meant to emulate. To have faith like Abraham, to be loyal like Ruth, or to be a man after God’s own heart like David. But this is not how the stories are meant to be read. If you read the OT this way, you'll end up thinking all you need is help instead of a Savior. See, the stories of the Old Testament are really all telling one story, the story of humanity’s failure and God sending his Son as the Savior we all need. Jesus said to the Pharisees, the elite studiers of the OT of his day: John 5:39 [39] You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me. Jesus and his disciples saw Scripture as the unfolding of the story of God rescuing his people, and therefore that he, Jesus, was the key to interpreting it.
And so, over the next 7 weeks we are going to start part 2 of a series called “Vintage Gospel” in which we’ll be looking at a number of figures and stories from the Old Testament to see how Jesus and the gospel are patterned, promised, and present there. We hope you’ll join us as we learn how to better read our Bibles together!
Vintage Gospel II - "Stand Sunday" (Various Scriptures)
Many of us grew up hearing the stories of the Old Testament, thinking the main characters were heroes that we were meant to emulate. To have faith like Abraham, to be loyal like Ruth, or to be a man after God’s own heart like David. But this is not how the stories are meant to be read. If you read the OT this way, you'll end up thinking all you need is help instead of a Savior. See, the stories of the Old Testament are really all telling one story, the story of humanity’s failure and God sending his Son as the Savior we all need. Jesus said to the Pharisees, the elite studiers of the OT of his day: John 5:39 [39] You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me. Jesus and his disciples saw Scripture as the unfolding of the story of God rescuing his people, and therefore that he, Jesus, was the key to interpreting it.
And so, over the next 7 weeks we are going to start part 2 of a series called “Vintage Gospel” in which we’ll be looking at a number of figures and stories from the Old Testament to see how Jesus and the gospel are patterned, promised, and present there. We hope you’ll join us as we learn how to better read our Bibles together!
Vintage Gospel II - "Exiles in the World; Citizens of Heaven"
Many of us grew up hearing the stories of the Old Testament, thinking the main characters were heroes that we were meant to emulate. To have faith like Abraham, to be loyal like Ruth, or to be a man after God’s own heart like David. But this is not how the stories are meant to be read. If you read the OT this way, you'll end up thinking all you need is help instead of a Savior. See, the stories of the Old Testament are really all telling one story, the story of humanity’s failure and God sending his Son as the Savior we all need. Jesus said to the Pharisees, the elite studiers of the OT of his day: John 5:39 [39] You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me. Jesus and his disciples saw Scripture as the unfolding of the story of God rescuing his people, and therefore that he, Jesus, was the key to interpreting it.
And so, over the next 7 weeks we are going to start part 2 of a series called “Vintage Gospel” in which we’ll be looking at a number of figures and stories from the Old Testament to see how Jesus and the gospel are patterned, promised, and present there. We hope you’ll join us as we learn how to better read our Bibles together!
Vintage Gospel II - "The Red Heifer"
Many of us grew up hearing the stories of the Old Testament, thinking the main characters were heroes that we were meant to emulate. To have faith like Abraham, to be loyal like Ruth, or to be a man after God’s own heart like David. But this is not how the stories are meant to be read. If you read the OT this way, you'll end up thinking all you need is help instead of a Savior. See, the stories of the Old Testament are really all telling one story, the story of humanity’s failure and God sending his Son as the Savior we all need. Jesus said to the Pharisees, the elite studiers of the OT of his day: John 5:39 [39] You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me. Jesus and his disciples saw Scripture as the unfolding of the story of God rescuing his people, and therefore that he, Jesus, was the key to interpreting it.
And so, over the next 7 weeks we are going to start part 2 of a series called “Vintage Gospel” in which we’ll be looking at a number of figures and stories from the Old Testament to see how Jesus and the gospel are patterned, promised, and present there. We hope you’ll join us as we learn how to better read our Bibles together!
Vintage Gospel II - "The Gospel According to Samson"
Many of us grew up hearing the stories of the Old Testament, thinking the main characters were heroes that we were meant to emulate. To have faith like Abraham, to be loyal like Ruth, or to be a man after God’s own heart like David. But this is not how the stories are meant to be read. If you read the OT this way, you'll end up thinking all you need is help instead of a Savior. See, the stories of the Old Testament are really all telling one story, the story of humanity’s failure and God sending his Son as the Savior we all need. Jesus said to the Pharisees, the elite studiers of the OT of his day: John 5:39 [39] You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me. Jesus and his disciples saw Scripture as the unfolding of the story of God rescuing his people, and therefore that he, Jesus, was the key to interpreting it.
And so, over the next 7 weeks we are going to start part 2 of a series called “Vintage Gospel” in which we’ll be looking at a number of figures and stories from the Old Testament to see how Jesus and the gospel are patterned, promised, and present there. We hope you’ll join us as we learn how to better read our Bibles together!
Vintage Gospel II - "The Gospel According to Noah"
Many of us grew up hearing the stories of the Old Testament, thinking the main characters were heroes that we were meant to emulate. To have faith like Abraham, to be loyal like Ruth, or to be a man after God’s own heart like David. But this is not how the stories are meant to be read. If you read the OT this way, you'll end up thinking all you need is help instead of a Savior. See, the stories of the Old Testament are really all telling one story, the story of humanity’s failure and God sending his Son as the Savior we all need. Jesus said to the Pharisees, the elite studiers of the OT of his day: John 5:39 [39] You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me. Jesus and his disciples saw Scripture as the unfolding of the story of God rescuing his people, and therefore that he, Jesus, was the key to interpreting it.
And so, over the next 7 weeks we are going to start part 2 of a series called “Vintage Gospel” in which we’ll be looking at a number of figures and stories from the Old Testament to see how Jesus and the gospel are patterned, promised, and present there. We hope you’ll join us as we learn how to better read our Bibles together!
Genesis 6-9
Stand Alone - "Our Weakness;Jesus’ Greatness"
We believe weakness is bad and strength is good. It is at the very core of human nature. And everything around us tells us the same. Pain is weakness leaving the body. Flaws are diminishing, and perfection is the goal. If we show the cracks that we have, then we’ll be less useful, less revered.
We cannot stand to be seen as weak, so we always play to our strengths.
But with God, this is flipped on its head. God makes beautiful use out of what is broken(God makes beautiful things out of the dust), God specializes in using human weaknesses, even yours! This is what Paul discovered firsthand with God, and that’s the truth he’s sharing with the Corinthians in these verses this morning. He wants them and us to know that our weakness shows Jesus’ greatness.
2 Corinthians 4:7-12
Jonah & the Whale - "The Unforgiving Servant"
We think we can determine who is deserving of mercy. Though, by its very definition, mercy is undeserved. Thankfully, God is too good to limit his mercy to our standards.
Jonah 4:1-11
Jonah & the Whale - "Bottom Up"
We tend to believe that the most important things must be done by the most important people. We value power, position, and control. But in the book of Jonah this morning we see that God's work does not begin top-down but bottom-up.
Jonah 3:1-10
Jonah & the Whale - "The Fringe Benefits of Failure"
When we resist our calling, we hit rock bottom. The longer we resist, the deeper we sink. But the good news is that God will take you to the depths if it means finding him there. Because it’s only when all our best efforts have failed, our resources exhausted, and our plans have blown up in our face that we can truly learn to depend on God. Rock bottom must become the solid foundation on which we rebuild our lives.
Jonah 1:17-2:10
Jonah & the Whale - "The Reluctant Missionary"
What happens when you run from the call of God? Why do we run from the call of God? This morning we meet perhaps the most reluctant of God's missionaries and hopefully see just little of ourselves in him.
Jonah 1:1-16
The Gospel of Luke - "Blind-Sighted"
As Jesus and the disciples and the crowds approach Jerusalem, the journey is puzzling and dark but at the same time joyous and bright. Soon Jesus will bear the sin of the world with Satan and his demons looking on believing they’ve triumphed. But in this death, Jesus will take on the blindness and sins of the whole world, overcoming them once and for all. And it tells us that though we will oftentimes feel confused by God’s work in the world and in our lives, this tension we experience is being resolved and will be fully when Jesus returns.
Join us this morning as we conclude our series in the Gospel of Luke...for now!
Luke 18:31-43