What’s Your Story?
Been to the movies lately? Or streamed one? A really good one? Ones of those stories that tug at your heartstrings? One of those stories that bring tears to your eyes? One of those stories that stirs your soul? Have you ever wondered why it impacts us that way? Why can we watch that kind of story over and over again? Get the answer this Sunday as we look at chapters 5 and 6 of Ezra. What? Ezra? Really? You have got to be kidding, right? Nope, that’s what we will discover.
Topics: Community, Connection, Purpose, Stories
How Does God Treat His Enemies
This week, Katherine is preaching on a chapter that the Bible Project calls "a really strange story." And she's really excited about it! As we walk through Ezra 4, we'll see how conflict between the Israelites and their enemies stops their plans. The Temple isn't the only thing that's broken, and there's a lot more that needs to be rebuilt. Fear and anger destroy relationships too. While people are busy with fighting and division, what is God up to? Join us Sunday to find out! Come ready for healing and with hearts of pray
Topics: Conflict Resolution, Reconciliation
Ready to Rebuild
The story in the book of Ezra represents a significant milestone in Israel's history. After 70 years in exile -- in a fractured land of foreign gods -- the people God chose to model faith were sent home to rebuild. They began by restoring the altar. In a significant story with a significant milestone, that's a significant thing to start with! Altars are a big deal, especially in the Hebrew world. Altars are where miracles happen, where healing happens, where atonement happens ... where people meet with God. And what is true in the stories God's first people is still true today. Altars are where transformation happens and where life begins. I look forward to meeting you at the altar.
Counted and Settled
Last week, we began our journey into the book of Ezra and learned that whatever our situation, whatever the cause of our exile, we don’t have to stay in Babylon. We have an invitation to come home and reclaim our faith, rebuild our altar, and restore our relationship with Jesus. This week, we discover, as we walk with the Israelites out of yet another exile and back into Jerusalem, God’s constant, invitational grace over our lives. He knows us. He has counted on us. And he invites us into hope. I can't wait to share with you all that Ezra has to teach our church!
Topics: How God Moves
An Introduction to Ezra
This Sunday, we'll get familiar with our friend Ezra, and we'll talk a little about what it takes to reclaim, rebuild, return, and restore. Because there's more to it than we might think! As one commentator notes, "The book of Ezra leaves you with the sense that more is needed than a rebuilt city and a rebuilt temple." To make a building into a church, what's needed is not only fire on the altar but also fire in every heart. So got ready! This summer, we will talk about how to build a personal "altar" and rekindle a spiritual fire, as we study a book that rarely gets focus but that carries a timeless message. See you Sunday!
Topics: Back to The Basics
Who Are We?
Yes, Lord! Do it again! This week, let's cast a little vision. As a faith community, what gets us most excited? How has God shaped us uniquely for this time in history? How are we fulfilling the Great Commission, and how are we loving our city well? Focusing on what it means to be the Church as God has crafted it, we'll step back and take some time to remember who we are as we move forward into a new chapter in the life of our "sweet communion." I can't wait to talk vision and pray together with you as we worship the One who makes it all worth it!
Topics: Evangelism, Mission, Prophetic, Spirit-filled, Vison
Holy Rhythms: The balance between law and grace.
Here's the big idea this week: entire sanctification is by grace through faith, not works. That is great news! So yes, there are pitfalls of attempting to live a holy life — namely, the temptation to lean on legalism and black-and-white thinking. And that can so easily stir up unholy judgmentalism. But the great news is that we are saved by grace through faith, not works ... so we don't have to be right about everything, and we don't have to worry about whether everyone around us has it all down exactly right. Here's the wisdom of Kevin Watson: “Seek entire sanctification by faith. And because we receive entire sanctification by faith, we seek it as we are, not after we think we have sufficiently gotten our acts together.” Amen, all by myself!
Topics: Law and Grace
Embodying Holiness
These days we are learning who we are inside the holiness of God. In these conversations, we're learning that holiness is not slavery. It is freedom! It is God calling us toward our created purpose. And we're learning that Christ’s freedom is not freedom FROM but freedom TO (make a note of that ... we'll come back to it in a series on freedom in August!). Doing "holy" was never meant to be just sin management. It is freedom to explore the glories and habits of the Kingdom of God. This week, we'll go deeper still into this idea of living a Kingdom life as we explore holiness as an embodied experience. What does holiness require of us, physically? And how does holiness manifest in our worship?
Topics: Bodies, Holiness, Perfect Love, Pleasing God
Growing in Holiness
As we go deeper into the Art of Holiness, we want to consider our influences. Last week we discussed the unholy trinity of the world, the flesh, and the devil. This week we will look at how God’s character, real Christian community, and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit can grow us in dynamic ways. In many ways, these are the three key influencers that mold us more deeply into the love and holiness of God. So join us as we come to know who God is and experience His grace through His people and His Holy Spirit.
Topics: Community, God's Love, Holiness, Holy Spirit
