This final message in the series focuses on the need for leadership, particularly just leadership, in order to see ‘shalom’ established.  Psalm 72 is a prayer that the king of Israel would be just that kind of leader.  It upholds God’s and Israel’s highest ideals for their leaders.  The bad news is that all earthly […]

In this message, the Lord instructed the exiles from Judah to ‘seek the shalom of the city’ to which He had carried them.  They were to settle down, build houses, plant gardens, and work for the betterment of the community; ‘its shalom’ would be ‘their shalom’.  As we continue this series and learn more about […]

In this message, the Lord instructed the exiles from Judah to ‘seek the shalom of the city’ to which He had carried them.  They were to settle down, build houses, plant gardens, and work for the betterment of the community; ‘its shalom’ would be ‘their shalom’.  As we continue this series and learn more about […]

We can’t talk about peace, especially as something we are to ‘do’ (Matt. 5.9) without talking about relationships and interactions with other people.  Peace is not only an important part of who the Church is (those whom God has brought together, the new humanity in Christ) but what we’re called to pursue in our interactions […]

We can’t talk about peace, especially as something we are to ‘do’ (Matt. 5.9) without talking about relationships and interactions with other people.  Peace is not only an important part of who the Church is (those whom God has brought together, the new humanity in Christ) but what we’re called to pursue in our interactions […]

In this message, our series on peace turns from what God has done to give us peace to what is required of us to live in and make peace.  In the Bible, there is a very close relationship between righteousness and peace.  Righteousness is not only the ‘status’ God has given us by faith in […]

In this message, our series on peace turns from what God has done to give us peace to what is required of us to live in and make peace.  In the Bible, there is a very close relationship between righteousness and peace.  Righteousness is not only the ‘status’ God has given us by faith in […]

With the fall of humanity came the brokenness of shalom.  Who could possibly restore it?  Only God can do it but only a human being should do it (since we broke it in the first place).  What can be done?  The answer in the ‘big story’ of the Bible is not a ‘what’ but at […]

With the fall of humanity came the brokenness of shalom.  Who could possibly restore it?  Only God can do it but only a human being should do it (since we broke it in the first place).  What can be done?  The answer in the ‘big story’ of the Bible is not a ‘what’ but at […]

Why is peace so elusive?  Why do we often only get small glimpses of shalom?  To understand, we must go back to the beginning of the ‘big story’ that the Bible tells.  All of our lives are lived under a larger story which has four chapters: Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Last Things.  No matter what […]