There's a kind of death that's deeper than physical death. A kind of death that corrodes you from the inside out. Many of us have the appearance of life, but we're actually dead within. This was Jesus' rebuke to the church in Sardis. What characterizes the "Living Dead?" And how do we tap into the life that Jesus promises us?

How often do we try to influence and control God? How often do we use the name of Jesus to fulfill our own plans, agendas, and dreams? All of us have experienced the subtle temptation of manipulation in our relationship with God, with others, and even with ourselves. This week, we read through Jesus' letter to the church in Thyatira.

There's a kind of fatigue that attacks the body. But there's another kind of fatigue that attacks the soul. Often times, our lives are far too busy and noisy for us confront our weariness. But the invitation of Jesus is to a life marked by rest. This week, we explore the spiritual practices of silence and solitude.

The church in Pergamum was known for their loyalty to Jesus. But although they never renounced the name of Jesus, they restricted the influence of Jesus on their lives. Slowly but surely, they were tempted by the surrounding world to compromise. We face the very same temptation today, specifically in relation to money, sex, and power. This week, we read Jesus' letter to the church in Pergamum.

It's very easy here in the West to organize our lives around the avoidance of suffering. But suffering is inevitable. The question we have to ask isn't: how do we avoid suffering at all costs, but how do we remain faithful to Jesus in our suffering? This week, we read through Jesus' letter to the church in Smyrna, the suffering church.

In the first of seven letters written to the churches in the book of Revelation, we see Jesus affirming the hard work, good deeds, and perseverance of the Ephesian church. But there's one thing he holds against them: they have forsaken the love they had at first. This isn't just a message for the church in Ephesus, this is a message for us today: You are faithful, but you are loveless. This week, we explore Jesus' call for us to return to our first love for him and for one another.

One of the more recent shifts in how we think about sexuality here in the West is that sex has been disconnected from gender. The majority of the church, however, still believes that marriage and sex should only be between a man and a woman. This week, we explore some of the misconceptions we have when we talk about gender and sexuality in the church, as we try to uncover God's heart for sex.

We continue our conversation about sexuality and faith. We explore the major shifts we've experienced here in the west in how we see and approach sexuality, and what Jesus' vision for sexual formation is in the midst of our culture.

Many of us in the church struggle to live with a healthy, holistic, anxiety-free vision of our sexuality as it relates to our spirituality. But how does God actually feel about sex? And how are we called to engage our sexuality as a follower of Jesus? This week, we explore what sexuality is and how it is a vital part of our spiritual formation.

We all want to be happy. We all want to live fulfilled lives. The problem is, we often misunderstand what will bring us true happiness. Jesus tells us that happiness comes from generosity. That is, when we give ourselves, to those we love. This week, we explore the fourth and final movement of becoming the Beloved: Given.