Anthem Church Life

Jonah spent 3 days in a fish. Jesus spent 3 days in the grave. Jonah spent 40 days hoping for destruction. Jesus spent 40 days proving his resurrection. Jonah went to Ninevah unwillingly, but Jesus came to earth willingly. And the comparisons don’t end there. Essentially, Jesus was the better version of Jonah, and God used Jonah’s life as a real-life prophecy of the Son of God who was to come.

Listen to a fantastic message by Ashley Pitkin today, and don't forget about our Saturday night outdoor events! Register at https://anthemchurch.life/watchparty so we can prepare for how many are coming. Live worship, live teaching, and socially distanced fun!

A five-word sermon from an unenthusiastic prophet, and 120,000 people convert to the faith. Sound far fetched? This is the story of Jonah, or more importantly, the God who brought about a revival THROUGH Jonah. And it never would have happened if God hadn't given him a second chance. Special thanks to our friend Steve for joining our podcast to share an incredible story from his life!

Jonah was at an all-time low. He ran as fast as he could from God ... straight into the belly of a whale. But it was here that his life turned around. Listen to how Jonah's rock-bottom prayer is a testimony to how God can give our lives a completely new direction.

Remember the story we heard as kids about Jonah and the whale? Would it surprise you to know that the whale is the least important part of the story? This is about a man who ran from the voice of God, and a God who saved him from himself. Ever been reluctant to follow the voice of God? We guarantee you that Jonah was even MORE reluctant. Watch and listen to the transformational journey that God led Jonah on.

Am I qualified to tell someone about Jesus? Many times we lift up missionaries, pastors, and priests to an elevated status, as if they are the only ones fit for the job of preaching the Gospel. But God's way is different - he doesn't call the qualified, he qualifies the called! Listen to Colin preach from John chapter 4, where Jesus chooses an unlikely candidate as His very first missionary.

Didn't Jesus say, 'Do not judge' ? If so, why do so many Christians seem to do the opposite? You may be surprised that The Bible (as well as Jesus himself) has a lot more to say about judgement than that simple 3-word phrase. Listen to Colin address this important topic today as we continue our series, 'Uncomfortable: the awkward and essential challenge of Christian community.'

As a Christian, you reflect Jesus through what you post and when you comment. How can we ensure that our social media presence reflects Christ's heart? Ashley Pitkin takes us through 6 filters that help us decide what to post and what NOT to post:

- Am I only judging what they are saying or am I seeking understanding?

- Am I posting or commenting something that I would never say to someone in person?

- Is this the right place to publicly express my views or opinions?

- Am I posting or commenting out of fear of entering into a real conversation?

- What are my words saying about my character or my witness?

- Am I praying more than I am posting?

The definition of irony is a British pastor preaching about giving up your rights on Independence Day weekend. Yes, you read that correctly. Laying down our rights is not an intuitively Western concept, but as we look at the life of Jesus, we see that He calls us to a more uncomfortable level of surrender than we may have originally thought. Listen to Colin Harfield preach this message today.

There's no quick fix to the racial issues facing our nation, and you aren't going to find an easy answer from one sermon. But we at Anthem are committed to being part of the solution as we move forward.

If you want to be part of the team working on this issue, please fill out this form to join our Racial Reconciliation Group: https://anthemchurchlife.churchcenter.com/people/forms/146325

Also, check out the Be The Bridge 5-Day Reading Plan by Latasha Morrison: https://www.bible.com/en/reading-plans/16910