If Jesus really is the Son of God, why did he come to live among us? What was the purpose of his life and death? Did he really rise from the dead, or is that just hyperbole? And how can the death of one man pay the debt of everyone’s rebellion? Join us this week … Continue reading "Reason and Faith, part 4 – Dead Man Walking"

Why does the church make such a big deal about Jesus? Wasn’t he just another good teacher who offers helpful advice for healthy living? Join us this week as Justin Smith explores the claims Jesus made about himself, and how those claims force us to decide about Jesus… and good teacher isn’t one of the … Continue reading "Reason and Faith, part 3 – What Makes Jesus So Special?"

Is belief in God even necessary in the modern age? Now that science has answered so many of our biggest questions? Do we even need God? Maybe it’s time to face a new reality, and leave God in the past. Join us this week as Rich Barrett explores evidence for the existence of God, and … Continue reading "Reason and Faith, part 2 – Is God Still A Thing?"

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