June 17, 2018 - Jeff & Jacquelyn Larson

Each one of us carries pain from our past. When that pain is triggered in our present relationship, we often cope in a destructive manner which inflicts even more pain. Most of the time, we do this subconsciously, unaware of how our past fogs the lens of our present. Using the Restoration Therapy Model, this session will give insight into the old pain cycle and provide tools to effectively express ourselves and work to create peace in our relationships.

June 10, 2018 - Wes Halula

Romans 12:9-21

This series derives its name from the title of Jean Vanier’s profound book on cultivating deeper community. During these 9 weeks, we are pulling out passages from New Testament letters which pertain to relationships. We are examining ways in which we all experience brokenness in ourselves and our relationships and how the transforming power of Christ fashions us into community. For it is only in the support of community that we find the certitude that we are loved just as we are, with all our wounds and flaws.

We hope that as we seek God He will do the impossible: changing death to life inside of each of us, so that perhaps our community can embody this transformation from brokenness into wholeness and be sources of life and love to the world around us.

June 3, 2018 - Jon Ritner

Galatians 6:1-10

This series derives its name from the title of Jean Vanier’s profound book on cultivating deeper community. During these 9 weeks, we are pulling out passages from New Testament letters which pertain to relationships. We are examining ways in which we all experience brokenness in ourselves and our relationships and how the transforming power of Christ fashions us into community. For it is only in the support of community that we find the certitude that we are loved just as we are, with all our wounds and flaws.

We hope that as we seek God He will do the impossible: changing death to life inside of each of us, so that perhaps our community can embody this transformation from brokenness into wholeness and be sources of life and love to the world around us.

May 27, 2018

Ephesians 4:1-7

In the midst of folding laundry, helping with homework, and breaking up fights, many parents get lost. Feeling pressure to do everything "right" and raise "good" children, it's easy to lose sight of our ultimate purpose as parents. In the quest for practical survival tips and guaranteed formulas, we need a big-picture view of God's plan for us as parents, centered on the good news of God’s grace. This will be framed around Dr. Paul Tripp’s book, Parenting.

Several video clips are referenced, which are omitted from the podcast audio, but can be accessed by clicking the Teaching Slides link below, or at PaulTripp.com/Parenting

From Brokenness to Community: ...To Loving

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

This series derives its name from the title of Jean Vanier’s profound book on cultivating deeper community. During these 9 weeks, we are pulling out passages from New Testament letters which pertain to relationships. We are examining ways in which we all experience brokenness in ourselves and our relationships and how the transforming power of Christ fashions us into community. For it is only in the support of community that we find the certitude that we are loved just as we are, with all our wounds and flaws.

We hope that as we seek God He will do the impossible: changing death to life inside of each of us, so that perhaps our community can embody this transformation from brokenness into wholeness and be sources of life and love to the world around us.

From Brokenness to Community: From Loved...

1 John 4:7-12

Our next series derives its name from the title of Jean Vanier’s profound book on cultivating deeper community. Over the next 9 weeks, we will pull out passages from New Testament letters which pertain to relationships. We will examine ways in which we all experience brokenness in ourselves and our relationships, and how the transforming power of Christ fashions us into community. For it is only in the support of community that we find the certitude that we are loved just as we are, with all our wounds and flaws. We hope that as we seek God He will do the impossible: changing death to life inside of each of us, so that perhaps, our community can embody this transformation from brokenness into wholeness and be sources of life and love to the world around us.

May 6, 2018 - Jon Ritner

Ephesians 2:8-10

Last summer, we heard from five local leaders on how they communicate and incarnate the Good News of Jesus in their communities. This year we are examining how God is calling Ecclesia to be Good News for the people and places of LA where he has already sent us. Each week we reflect on a different aspect of our communal life. Today we finish a conversation we started last week on Ecclesia’s journey into liminality and how God is reforming us in the process to become a community sent to participate in God’s mission in the world.

Today’s teaching time will include some open dialogue with Pastor Jon, similar to a Town Hall. Here are two questions Jon will invite us to explore together with him.

1. What were some positives that emerged from the era in which the beliefs and practices of Christianity dominated the cultural landscape?

2. What are your thoughts or feelings about a church future where every disciple takes responsibility to make disciples and live out a Kingdom calling in the places where we have already been sent?

Good News for LA: Mission

Luke 10:1-11, 17

Last summer, we heard from 5 local leaders on how they communicate and incarnate the Good News of Jesus in their communities. This year we are examining how God is calling Ecclesia to be Good News for the people and places of LA where he has already sent us. Each week we will reflect on a different aspect of our communal life. So far we have explored the importance of incarnating Jesus in our own lives and how to create deep, transformative community amidst a culture that emphasizes individualism. Today we will explore how joining God’s mission in the world can form us individually and as a community to become more like Jesus.

Today’s teaching time will include some open dialogue with Pastor Jon, similar to a Town Hall. Here are three questions Jon will invite us to explore together with him.

1. What are the main elements of Joseph Campbell’s "Hero’s Journey" and a few examples of familiar stories that follow this narrative?

2. Which elements of the Hero’s Journey do we see in the sending of the 12 disciples in Luke 10?

3. What practical acts of mission might lead us out of our comfort zones and catalyze deeper personal and communal formation?

April 22, 2018 - Jon Ritner

3 John 5-10

Last summer, we heard from 5 local leaders on how they communicate and incarnate the Good News of Jesus in their communities. For the next 4 weeks, we will examine how God is calling Ecclesia to be Good News for the people and places of LA where He has already sent us. Each week we will reflect on a different aspect of our communal life, beginning today by exploring our weekly large group gatherings as a church.

Today's teaching time will include some open dialogue with Pastor Jon, similar to a Town Hall. Here are three questions Jon will invite us to explore together with him:

1. What are the features of life in LA that inhibit the formation of deep community relationships?

2. What values could God’s church incarnate as good news in contrast to this brokenness in LA?

3. How might we align our existing lives differently to form deeper community relationships?

April 15, 2018 - Jon Ritner

John 13:12-20

Last summer, we heard from 5 local leaders on how they communicate and incarnate the Good News of Jesus in their communities. For the next 4 weeks, we will examine how God is calling Ecclesia to be Good News for the people and places of LA where He has already sent us. Each week we will reflect on a different aspect of our communal life, beginning today by exploring our weekly large group gatherings as a church.

Today's teaching time will include some open dialogue with Pastor Jon, similar to a Town Hall. Here are three questions Jon will invite us to explore together with him:

1. What have been the greatest catalysts for spiritual growth in your life?

2. Which elements of our current Sunday morning gatherings are the most valuable to you as a follower of Jesus?

3. What could we do differently in order to generate more consistent Sunday participation, more meaningful engagement in worship, and more acts of communal hospitality?