What do we mean when we say that the Bible is the Word of God? Where did it come from? Why are there so many versions? Is the Bible just a collection of inspirational quotes from prophets and teachers, or is it the final authority for how we should live our lives? Join us this … Continue reading "Reason and Faith, part 1 – Holy Book, Reliable Manuscripts, or Both?"

When Jesus died, hope died along with him. No one was planning to keep this new movement going, because, after all, it seemed Jesus wasn’t who he claimed to be. Immediately following the crucifixion, there were no Christians, because there was no Christ. But then something happened. April 17, 2022

We all have embarrassing moments we can laugh about—later. There are shameful moments that we would give anything to undo. But while our pasts remind us, they don’t have to define us. April 10, 2022

Many times, our faith deteriorates as our circumstances deteriorate. When that happens, our faith is quickly overcome by fear, and the future looks dark. The apostle Peter experienced this, and he temporarily fled his faith in Jesus. April 3, 2022

Fear invites us to follow the path of self-preservation. However, if we follow that path long enough, we will neither preserve nor have anything to show for our lives. The original disciples of Jesus had the same tendencies at times. On one occasion, Jesus reminded them of what it means to follow him by saying … Continue reading "You’re Not Far, Part 5 – Kingdom Great"

From an early age, we learn quickly to look for loopholes in the rules. We try to figure out what we can get away with and still be okay. We tend to take this same mindset into our relationship with God, but it doesn’t work. When we opt for loopholes and workarounds, we find ourselves … Continue reading "You’re Not Far, Part 4 – Loophole Religion"

Whether it’s school, sports, or religion, when we focus only on the rules, it can be difficult to remember the overall purpose of something. Jesus reminds us that when we focus so much on the letter of the law, we may forget why the law was written in the first place. March 13, 2022

Jesus ignored certain religious protocols. He claimed to have authority to forgive sin. He was uncomfortably comfortable with unrepentant sinners. In this message, we hear about three encounters that showed Jesus came to reverse the order of things. March 6, 2022

We often read the Bible for application, inspiration, or direction. However, there are times when the author wants to simply point the reader to a big idea—an idea that fits with God’s grand story. In the Gospel of Mark, we read about Peter’s experience with Jesus that led Peter to believe in one big idea: … Continue reading "You’re Not Far, Part 1 – Write This Down"

If you have ever volunteered to do something for which you felt totally unqualified, then you already know what an experience like that can do for your faith. One of the primary ways God grows our faith is through personal ministry. In this lesson, we will explore the relationship between our faith and our service … Continue reading "Five Things God Uses to Grow Your Faith – Part 4: Personal Ministry"