Series: Beatitudes (part 2)

Date: January 19, 2025

Teacher: Mike Mileski

The pain and suffering we face cause people to react differently: we escape it, we numb ourselves to it, or we may lose our faith. Yet we have a God who can handle our questions, our doubts, and our pain. He welcomes it, and says "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." We hope this message will be a comfort to you.

#beatitudes, #gospel, #jesus, #beatitudes, #grief, #lament, #mourning, #Kingdom

Series: Beatitudes (part 1)

Date: January 12, 2025

Teacher: Mike Mileski

The Sermon on the Mount is regarded by many as one of the greatest, if not the greatest collection of teachings ever shared. In it, Jesus shares many of His most important, counter-cultural ideas.

This week, we're introduced to the Sermon on the Mount, and the first of Jesus' Beatitudes. What's Jesus' goal in the Beatitudes, and what could He possibly mean by this first one: "Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven"?

#beatitudes, #SermonontheMount, #deconstruction, #happiness, #blessed, #theGospel, #jesus

Series: The Perfect Gift (Part 6)

Date: December 29, 2024

Teacher: Mike Mileski

It's so easy to rush ahead to thoughts about the new year ahead, and forget to reflect on what's happened in the year gone by. So this week's recording is a prayerful reflection exercise: We review each of the themes of Advent (hope, peace, joy, love, and Christ) and created quiet space in which to examine, and hear God speak. We hope this recording might help you unpack and appreciate the ways God blessed you over Advent this year.

#prayer, #Advent, #reflection, #contemplation, #ContemplativePrayer, #ListeningPrayer, #Rest, #NewYear2025, #HappyNewYear

Series: The Perfect Gift (Part 5)

Date: December 24, 2024

Scripture: (John 1:1-13)

Teacher: Mike Mileski

At this time of year, Jews celebrate Hanukkah, or as a reminder that when things seemed darkest, a miracle occurred, and the light was restored. It points the way to God's true and greater light: Christ who is God incarnate. He said so while celebrating Hanukkah. There is a lot of darkness, but Christ has come - He proves that God is not done doing miracles; His light still shines in the darkness.

#light, #Advent, #Christ, #incarnation, #theGospel, #Hanukkah, #FeastofDedication

Series: The Perfect Gift (Part 4)

Date: December 22, 2024

Scripture: (Matthew 1:18-24; 2:13-23)

Teacher: Mike Mileski

It turns out that a lot of what we call "love" in our culture really isn't. It's often self-serving, fragile, and conditional. God's love is not, and we see it demonstrated in the choices of Joseph, who married Mary, and served as father to Jesus. If you struggle to know what real love looks like, this message should encourage and challenge you.

#love, #Joseph, #Advent, #theGospel

Series: The Perfect Gift (Part 3)

Date: December 15, 2024

Scripture: (Luke 1:26-56)

Teacher: Nathan Tomes

When Mary of Nazareth received the news that she'd be mother to the Messiah, it would have been easy for her to react with self pity over the disruption of her plans and goals. Instead, she bursts out in one of the most beautiful, joyful, important, and disruptive prophetic songs ever recorded. Where does her joy come from? How can this joy be ours?

#joy, #Mary, #theGospel, #advent

Series: The Perfect Gift (Part 2)

Date: December 8, 2024

Scripture: (Luke 1:57-79)

Teacher: Mike Mileski

Often, what passes for "peace" really isn't - like in the Pax Romana, when Rome conquered and destroyed and enslaved, and the world called it "peace".

John's parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth weren't deceived because because they'd been praying for God's TRUE peace: His Shalom. Advent is their story too - the story of prayers answered, and a son who would prepare the way for Messiah, who'd teach us all the "path of peace".

#peace, #shalom, #pax, #paxromana, #violence, #paxamericana, #paxeuropa, #ukraine #gaza #war

Series: The Perfect Gift (Part 1)

Date: December 1, 2024

Scripture: (Luke 2:22-39)

Teacher: Mike Lewis

The years before the arrival of Jesus were dark, difficult ones for God's people. As an oppressed, conquered people, many in Israel had given up hope that things could get better.

Two important exceptions were Simeon and Anna. Their hope - in spite of appearances - is a powerful testimony to all of us that Jesus is God's perfect gift for people who struggle to trust that God CAN and DOES keep His promises.

Series: Formed (Part 9)

Date: November 24,

Scripture: 2Corinthians 3:12-18

Teacher: Mike Mileski

Over the last several weeks we've learned about spiritual disciplines by which God forms us - like a potter with clay - into the image of Jesus. In this final message, we review and reflect on what we've heard and invite God to speak to us. This guided listening prayer creates space for us to slow down, quiet our hearts, and listen for the Spirit's voice. We trust it'll be helpful for you!

#prayer #listeningprayer #contemplativeprayer #spiritualformation #formed

Series: Formed (Part 8)

Date: November 17, 2024

Scripture: Acts 8:26-40

Teacher: Mike Mileski

Many of us have cringey evangelism stories to tell. Somehow we learned that evangelism is about proving Christianity is the best religion, and those who reject it are fools.

In this message, Philip's conversation with the Ethiopian Eunuch gives us helpful lessons about what Gospel proclamation is and isn't. And, we saw why anyone who believes this Gospel - literally anyone - is qualified to announce it to others.

#evangelism #gospel #jesus #witnessing #defeaters #apologetics #conversion #sexualminorities #holyspirit #church