Sunday, March 9, 2025

Scripture: Romans 3:21-26

Teacher: Mike Mileski

The Cross means different things to different people. And yet, the Scriptures tell us many reasons why it was necessary for Christ to die. In this message, we study what some have called "the most important paragraph in the Bible" to understand how Jesus solved the most serious problem facing the world.

#gospel #righteousness #atonement #cross #jesus

Date: Mar 2, 2025

Scripture: Matt. 5:10-12

Speaker: Mike Mileski

In our culture, it's hard to imagine having to endure opposition on account of our faith, but there have been times when identifying as a Christ follower resulted in terrible, painful persecution. In this message we wrap up our study of the Beatitudes by exploring the reasons for persecution, its roots, and its results for the Church and our witness.

#persecution #peace #powers #spiritualwarfare #gospel #church #jesus

Date: February 23, 2025

Scripture: Matt 5:1-9

Speaker: Mike Mileski

Anyone who has spent time in a church community knows that Christians are not immune to conflict. When it comes, some will go on the attack; others will run and hide from it, and some will try and ignore it and pretend everything is okay.

The choices we make about how to resolve conflict show whose we are - and in this beatitude, Jesus says that it's the peacemakers who'll be called God's children!

#peace #conflict #reconciliation #forgiveness #gospel #shalom #unity #jesus

Date: February 16, 2025

Scripture: Matt 5:1-8

Speaker: Mike Mileski

People wear masks for all kinds of reasons - we want to appear different than we are because we fear rejection, or because we crave acceptance.

In this study, we learn that our greatest problem is the problem of a divided heart - we anchor our hearts to too many different, unhelpful things, instead of one glorious, beautiful thing: Christ. Jesus' promise for us is that it's those with undivided hearts who'll see God!

#hypocrites #hypocrisy #masks #augustine #heart #religiousaffections #gospel #jesus

Date: February 9, 2025

Scripture: Matt 5:1-7

Speaker: Mike Mileski

Many of us divide the world into good guys and bad guys; safe and unsafe, lawbreakers and law abiders. And on that basis, we'll make all our decisions about who deserves our friendship, our time, and our kindness.

In this beatitude, we learn how mercy - according to Jesus - upends all of that. Mercy is a challenge, and choice, and a crisis. But it's the merciful who'll be shown mercy!

#lesmiserables #jeanvaljean #24601 #mercy #merciful #gospel #church

Date: February 2, 2025

Scripture: Matt 5:1-6

Speaker: Mike Mileski

There are people who hunger and thirst for righteousness - they long to know that they're been forgiven, seen, and loved by God. Assurance can seem elusive, and many will struggle to find it. In this study, we learn that the struggle for righteousness IS our assurance! And those who hunger and thirst for it will be satisfied!

#assurance #salvation #justification #sanctification #HolySpirit #gospel #jesus #luther #martinluther #church

Series: Beatitudes (part 3)

Date: January 26, 2025

Teacher: Mike Mileski

Who are the "meek"? This might be the most counter-cultural of all the Beatitudes!

Jesus embodied meekness, yet He wasn't weak. How do we know whether we're meek?What will it look like for His people to follow His example, and inherit the earth?

#beatitudes, #gospel, #jesus, #beatitudes, #meekness, #Kingdom, #vangogh, #lotr, #frodo

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