From the very beginning, God's love for his people has been seen in him graciously giving us gifts. 

As we start our new series in the book of Genesis, we consider three questions: Who is God, Who are we, and How are we to live in the world?

We welcome Pastor David Bempong to share with us this week from Psalm 137

Jesus is always present with all power, so I can go all places, and talk to all people about all that he commanded, and about how we all only have one hope, and that is faith in Jesus Christ.

The resurrections causes us to feel both terror and joy. 

Mother Theresa says "Loneliness is the greatest poverty," yet we are facing an epidemic of loneliness in our world today. But perhaps there is hope to be found when we look to Christ all alone on the cross. No matter the pain, suffering, trauma, temptation, exhaustion, or loneliness you are facing, Jesus has been there too. He has faced it fully, conquered it completely, and gives that victory to all who trust in him. 

The most important and consequential trial in the history of the world was the trial of Jesus before the Roman governor Pilate. It was in this trial that Jesus was condemned and criminal was set free. And what a picture of the Gospel it is for each of us. 

The tension between the religious leaders and Jesus is building in this last week before his crucifixion. But he still finds time to give his disciples one last profound teaching. With three stories he gives a startling picture of what is to come. In the Parable of the Ten Virgins he reminds them to always be ready because they don't know when the kingdom will come. In the Parable of the Talents he tells them that when that day comes they will be held to an account for how they have lived for the kingdom of God. But what does it mean to live for the kingdom? He answers this question by explaining what the final judgement will look like. Today we examine this picture and consider how we live like citizens of God's kingdom. 

We find that while the root of our salvation is God's love for us, the fruit of our salvation must be our love of others. Followers of Jesus have been given the heart of God and his heart is a heart of love. 

The story of Jesus' Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem has been recited over and over again, but what is little know is the story of the other triumphant entry around the same time. But it is this other parade that forms the backdrop of the counter example to Jesus. It is in taking these two side by side that we see the difference in the kingdom of Jesus and the kingdoms of this world. And it is then that we are faced with the question of whose kingdom we will serve. 

See how Jesus is presented as the humble king of peace for all nation and all peoples. We are invited to join in following him, but we must remember that following Jesus will put us in direct confrontation with the kingdoms of this world. Whose kingdom will you choose?

When Jesus is asked what we must do to have eternal life, he offers an interesting answer. First, he questions why they would ask him. Then he points them to the commandments. But none of us can obey the commandments well enough, especially when Jesus points out that we need to give away everything in pursuit of him. So what hope do we have? 

Jesus gives that hope elsewhere in Scripture when asked the same question. What must I do to have eternal life? Believe in Jesus!