A Seattle Church

God has chosen us for relationship with him. The question is if we will choose to love him back. If we will also love those God has called us to? In partnership with Pastor Don Lee from World Vision, Pastor Tyler encourages us to consider how God is inviting our church to "remember the poor." To begin afresh by sponsoring children together from 2 villages in Zimbabwe.

Pastor Tyler looked at the stories of Jesus healing Jairus’ daughter and the bleeding woman who touched his garment. He invited us to consider how we can live boldly in the healing ministry of Jesus. How we can bring our vulnerability to Christ for healing, as well as helping others to do the same. To take heart in Christ’s healing for us and others today and in the age to come.

Forgiveness involves four key relationships: from God to you, you to yourself, you to others, and others to you. Struggles often arise in believing in, receiving, and extending forgiveness, as well as accepting it from others. Drawing from Mark 2:1-12, which illustrates Jesus’ authority to forgive sins and heal, the sermon emphasizes that forgiveness is crucial for overcoming brokenness and fostering boldness in faith. Embracing forgiveness involves accountability, confession, repentance, and extending grace, reflecting the transformative power of Christ’s love and authority.

Pastor Tyler outlines six ways to take heart from Christ’s presence: Jesus’ intentional presence with His disciples, His reassuring words, His invitation for faith, His immediate rescue of Peter, His calming of the storm, and the disciples' recognition of His divinity. He emphasizes that Christ’s presence overcomes fear and doubt, urging believers to focus on Jesus rather than their worries. The sermon encourages the congregation to embrace bold faith and share their faith courageously, knowing that Jesus is with them in every challenge.

Pastor Chris Griffith explores the theme of unity within the church, particularly in the face of societal divisions and diverse opinions. It starts by highlighting the current climate of division and contrasts it with the idea of the church as a place of unity, as envisioned by God.

His message emphasizes that true unity goes beyond superficial slogans or labels; it involves genuine connection and harmony. The text uses the metaphor of musical harmony—different notes coming together to create a pleasing chord—to illustrate this concept. It concludes by underscoring that unity in worship should transcend differences and be rooted in a shared faith in Christ, rather than external distinctions.

Brice dives into spiritual warfare, emphasizing the reality of a spiritual battle that Christians face, highlighting the importance of unity and the need to "put on the full armor of God" to stand against evil forces.

This message explores various reactions people have towards spiritual warfare, ranging from excitement and skepticism to fear and anger. It stresses the importance of understanding biblical spiritual warfare, the enemy's strategies to divide and deceive, and how Christ helps believers overcome these challenges. The message concludes by encouraging believers to strengthen their commitment to truth, allegiance to Christ, and reliance on His power.

In the church, we often divide via our pleasures. We live in spite of one another because our lives are often defined by trying to “live the dream” in the eyes of others. Self-protective fears of not being happy enough lead us to chose ourselves over others. Instead, we are called to re-unite in the body of Christ. In needing and giving ourselves to one another to grow. Bearing with one another to remember that we only have true faith when it is shared. That we can unite with others under a shared mission, telos, and humility. Being restored a life worthy of th calling we have received. Becoming defined by our shared glorious identity in the Body more than simply our personalities as individuals seeking pleasure at all costs to community.

In the church, we often divide via our sources of power. We live in spite of one another because our lives are defined by the strength of our associations. We try to “make a life for ourselves” in natural ways that reflect the world. Defining ourselves by walking out-of-step from God’s presence. Self-protective fears lead us to trust our resumes, social acceptance, and bank accounts. Instead, we are called to re-unite in Christ’s Spirit. Not by our our way but by his might. Remembering that we have a loving Spirit inside of us. One we can trust and that unites with others in his sustenance, joy, and refreshing. Being restored to our intimate oneness with the trinity, we gain faith from “the power working within us.”(Eph 3:20 KJV). Becoming defined by our shared identity in the Spirit more than the dried-up wells that often promise but can’t bring “springs of ever-living water.”