The American way teaches us to believe in ourselves and focus on our achievements. In Luke 18 and 19, two wealthy men, each at the top of their game, are haunted by the emptiness in their life that money and power won't cure. Jesus never one to play games, confronts them face-to-face. Asked to confess their own hypocrisy, one turns away from the Son of God, the other embraces him into eternity.

Pastor Jon Betz teaches on the Jesus's baptism, temptation, call to his first disciples, and the beginning of his miraculous ministry of mercy and love. At each turn of the story, the Spirit is at work alongside Jesus, with one and the same mission and message. This Spirit now lives within us, what does it ask of us? – Scripture: Mark 1:9-28.

This week Pastor Jon Betz introduces a new series focusing on the Holy Spirit's role in our lives. Galatians 5:16-26 gives hope to our hopeless hearts by stating this: The Spirit has been sent into all who believe. Alongside us, God's spirit fights with us against the sinful desires of our flesh. God Spirit reminds us of Jesus and his love, which holds the true solution to our own lives existential angst.

Pastor Jon Betz teaches from 2 Peter 1:16-21, closing out our Advent Series "From Darkness comes a Light". Pinning his argument on the Transfiguration experience of Jesus that he witnessed on the "sacred mountain", Peter writes in his last days urging those who share in his faith to see that because of Jesus and faith in Him alone, does the power of God and the Second Coming bring hope and not wrath, forgiveness and not condemnation... and grace amidst God's coming justice. We can look forward in hope and not fear, living that hope in service to those around us.

As we continue exploring the meaning of Christmas,Pastor Jon Betz teaches from John 1:1-18, the Prologue to the Gospel of John. In Matthew 16:15 Jesus asks the question to his disciplines "Who do you say I am?" John answers this with a resounding affirmation of Christ's identity as the Word, with God, of God–and sent to dwell among us.

This week, good friend and guest teacher Michael Miller explores Isaiah 8:18-9:7. As King Ahaz fears the destruction of Judah by waring nations, he unwittingly plots his own demise by seeking to pledge allegiance to the King of Assyria. While Ahaz shows us the fallen Kingship of Israel, Isaiah prophecies a solution in the short-term and an eternal solution of the coming Eternal King, a "Wounderful Counselor" an "Almighty God" a "Prince of Peace".

Our Advent series continues with this week's teaching by Pastor Jon Betz on the corrective discipline at the Tower of Babel, his call to Abram and our hearts, and the redemption he seeks for all people.

Kicking off our advent series, "From Darkness...Light" Pastor Jon Betz teaches on the very beginning. Looking forward to Christ's birth, we start by asking the question, "Who is our creator?" and find how sin equates to systematic doubt, anger and denial of his very essence. (Scripture: Genesis 1:1-5)

Pastor Jon Betz rounds out a five-week series on the book of Ruth. Naomi's emptiness and loss meets hope and fullness with the birth of Obed, due in part to Boaz's loving-kindness to Naomi's dead husband and his act of "kinsman redemption", and in full to God's divine plan for the house of Elimilech. The writer of Ruth headlines a biblical framework for true wholeness, neither worldly sensibility, nor self-actualization, nor based on friendships, marriages or relationships, but on a radical and trusting faith in the Lord God of Israel.

This week, Pastor Jon Betz continues the story of Ruth. At the start of chapter 3, Naomi instructs Ruth to visit Boaz at night, constructing an audacious and intimate plan which relies fully on his compassion to save. Scripture: Ruth 3 (full chapter).