For three weeks we have considered the call of Jesus on us as His people to be ‘uniters,’ not dividers—to tear down walls of hostility through love. This week we turn to Ephesians 2:10-22, the Bible’s most extended celebration of this theme. It makes clear that we are not saved by our good works—but we are saved for good works; and these works “God prepared for us to do” all center around lives of reconciliation, not separation—instead of hostility a serving community offering a radical kind of acceptance in Christ, for Christ and through Christ. Come ready to wrestle with your life calling in Christ.

Ephesians 2:11-22 is a careful reflection on how Jesus’ death on the Cross impacts the divisions we create and walls we erect between one another, between our group and the “other,” (over all kinds of differences, old animosities and unforgiven offenses) than Ephesians 2:11-22. Our third study together on Us vs Them?: Tearing Down the Dividing Walls digs into Ephesians 2 and related passages to understand how and why the God of the Cross offers equal access into His community to all.

We all have to constantly decide how we view those who are not like us—the “others” around us. What do we do with people who hold to difference lifestyle preferences, politics, moral standards, religious beliefs? How do we relate to those whose views are polar opposite to ours? What value do we assign them and how does that value hold up if we think their presence may threaten our way of life? How do we dialogue with them and about them? What factors should guide our responses? Which factors actually do guide our responses? What role does our way of processing real differences play in our witness to Jesus as the Hope of the world? The Biblical response is unequivocal but, in general, the Christian community’s—not so much. Join us this summer as we talk about ways to sync up what we see in Scripture with what we see in the world. Our series is titled: Us vs. Them? Tearing Down the Dividing Walls.

On the Cross Jesus took the place of total exclusion—rejected and degraded and despised by Jew and Gentile. Forsaken by God. Isolation. Darkness. Jesus went to the depths of human sin to allow His saving embrace to reach around all people—anyone willing to open their arms to Him, to the depth of His love. The Bible says He did this: “to bring us together and make us one” John 11:52. This is the essential witness of the Gospel at work in our lives—we become a community passionately committed to tearing down walls and drawing people together. Join us as we begin our Summer Series: Us vs. Them?: Tearing Down the Dividing Walls.

When many think about grace they think of it as the vehicle for which we begin a personal connection with Jesus Christ. However, grace is also the source of strength that enables us to walk in the way of Jesus Christ. Join us this weekend to discover how grace fuels our path into a deeper relationship with Him.

Every time Jesus helped someone – it cost him! Often what it cost Him was His reputation… It drove His followers and supporters absolutely mad! Why did you have to forgive the prostitute? Why did you have to touch the leper? Why were you always hanging out in Galilee? Just when He was getting some positive press, He would go and hang out at a party of sinners… Sigh. This seems to be the way of Jesus in serving… costly, hands on, messy. What did Jesus know about the heart of God? Join us this weekend to find out.

We continue our journey in the Way of Jesus by looking at the heart. The Bible has a lot to say about the human heart, which signifies not only the center of our spiritual activity, but every aspect of our life. What can happen if we fully grasp the meaning of living in a way where our hearts are wide-open to Jesus, recognizing His presence in the now, and living under His Lordship each day of our lives? Join us as we look at what living a life with that kind of a heart looks like.

Forgiveness is a central part of our faith. Jesus frequently declared "your sins are forgiven" and also called his followers to forgive. We are all incredibly grateful when our own trespasses are forgiven but forgiving those who trespass against us can be more challenging. This week we will look at these twin sides to the coin of forgiveness - what we have been forgiven and the call to forgive. This is surely one of the most life-changing and powerful aspects of The Way of Jesus.

Last weekend, we talked about practicing the presence of God as the foundation to our current series, The Way of Jesus. If you missed it, here’s a link to the podcast. This weekend, we will look at Status. Our world defines a successful life in terms of power, prestige and possessions. Jesus had a whole different take on this and calls His people to a risky, sometimes demanding, often counter-cultural way of life. A life that radiates with fullness and joy and meaning and love. Join us this weekend as we walk through the Roman colony of Philippi and see how Jesus subverts their thinking and their culture and their way of living. For extra credit, read Philippians!