Engaging Conversations

“We move at the speed of trust.”

These words are often repeated by a friend of mine. He works with pastors exploring strategic partnership to deepen their missional impact in their communities and beyond. The reason he uses this phrase is that in a world plagued by sin, entering into new relationships is always fraught with complications. We want to trust others, but our experience atrophies our trust muscles. Will this person repeat harm I’ve experienced in past relationships? Is this community safe? Ultimately, the only way to find out is to begin taking baby steps toward trust. But you can’t rush these things, they take time.

The Bible speaks to these complex issues. God’s desire for his church is that it be a place of healing and stability. The elder pastor, Paul, writes a series of letters to some younger pastors (Timothy and Titus) and in them he makes five “trustworthy statements” about God that we can trust even when everything else is falling down around us. Join us, as we take this next season to explore these statements and the broader context of the letters written to these young pastors. And join us in praying to the Lord that he would make our community one that reflects His heart: trustworthy.

A Trustworthy Son
(1 Timothy 1:1-2, January 12 2025, 43 Minutes, Audio / Video)

A Trustworthy Plan
(1 Timothy 1:3-4, January 19 2025, 41 Minutes, Audio / Video)

A Trustworthy Goal
(1 Timothy 1:5-7, January 26 2025, 40 Minutes, Audio / Video)

A Trustworthy Command
(1 Timothy 1:8-11, February 2 2025, 40 Minutes, Audio / Video)

A Trustworthy Calling
(1 Timothy 1:12-20, February 9 2025)

A Trustworthy Mediator
(1 Timothy 2:1-7, February 16 2025)

A Trustworthy Order
(1 Timothy 2:8-15, February 23 2025)

A Trustworthy Servant-Leader
(1 Timothy 3:1-7, March 2 2025)

A Trustworthy Lead Servant
(1 Timothy 3:8-13, March 16 2025)

A Trustworthy Creed
(1 Timothy 3:14-4:5, March 23 2025)

A Trustworthy Training
(1 Timothy 4:6-16, March 30 2025)

A Trustworthy Provision
(1 Timothy 5:1-16, April 6 2025)

A Trustworthy Process
(1 Timothy 5:17-25, April 13 2025)

A Trustworthy Freedom
(1 Timothy 6:1-2, April 27 2025)

A Trustworthy Priority
(1 Timothy 6:3-16, May 4 2025)

A Trustworthy Treasure
(1 Timothy 6:17-21, May 11 2025)

A Trustworthy Savior
(2 Timothy 2:11, May 18 2025)

A Trustworthy Spirit
(Titus 3:8, May 25 2025)

*Entire service available on video HERE

Call to Worship

Worship In Song

Arise, My Soul, Arise

Fix My Eyes

The Reading Of God’s Word

1 Corinthians 12:26-31 (Read by Jessica Stott)

26 So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.27 Now you are the body of Christ, and individual members of it. 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, next miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, leading, various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all do miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But desire the greater gifts. And I will show you an even better way.

The Proclamation Of God’s Word

1 Corinthians 12:26-31: In Sickness & Health (Sean Nolan)

Songs Of Response

Bruised & Broken

All The Poor & Powerless

Cornerstone

Announcements

6/8-10th – Women’s Retreat 

7/8 – Engaging w/ Engage

8/24-26th – Men’s Retreat

Worship Through Giving:

Those who call Engage home are encouraged to worship through giving. Those giving by cash or check are encouraged to drop in the collection box in the lobby. To read more about what we believe about giving or to submit an offering online click HERE.
(also available on Venmo: @EngageAlbany)

Benediction

Therefore the Lord GOD said: “Look, I have laid a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will be unshakable.

-Isaiah 28:16

In the first ever episode of “Engaging Conversations” pastor Sean sits down with Rosaria Butterfield to discuss her new book “The Gospel Comes with a House Key.” They discuss radical hospitality, how the idea for this book came out of Rosaria’s former life as an LGBT activist, and other ways strangers can become neighbors and neighbors can become the family of God. Check it out and don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review if you liked it.

In which Sean sits down with one Costi Hinn (yes he’s related to Benny Hinn…THAT Benny Hinn) to discuss some of the problems with the prosperity gospel and the true answer to our spiritual poverty: Jesus Christ. Check out Costi’s church here: https://missionbible.org/ his website here: http://www.forthegospel.org/ and buy his book here: https://smile.amazon.com/Costi-W.-Hinn/e/B079NH95W8/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1542228125&sr=8-1

Childlessness can be a really earth-shattering event to come to grips with. In this episode Sean sits down with Chelsea Patterson Sobolik who has found her hope in Christ as he has navigated her through this challenging reality. Please consider subscribing and checking out her website: http://www.chelseapattersonsobolik.com/ you can buy her book here: https://smile.amazon.com/Longing-Motherhood-Holding-Midst-Childlessness/dp/0802416128/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1541012178&sr=8-1&keywords=chelsea+sobolik

In which Sean sits down with CJ Quartlbaum and talks about race, gentrification, and some other stuff. Forgive a bit of garbled audio in the middle, he was kind enough to talk to me from vacation. Check out some of his writing at his blog (https://www.cjquartlbaum.com) and some of the following links: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/profile/cj-quartlbaum/

In which Sean sits down with distinguished professor of biblical spirituality, Dr. Don Whitney of Southern Seminary to discuss how Christians discipline themselves in the Christian life. Discipline gets a bad rep, but it deepens our union with Christ. Check out more about Dr. Whitney at his website: https://biblicalspirituality.org/biography/ and buy some of his books here: https://smile.amazon.com/Donald-S.-Whitney/e/B001K8K2GI/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1538522573&sr=8-2-ent

In this episode Sean and Chris Martin (both millennials by various demographers) talk about the unique challenges for said generation and the things that influence their faith in various ways. A really fun conversation. Find out more about Chris at his blog:  http://www.millennialevangelical.com/ you can also buy his book (which I erroneously thought shared the name of his blog) here: https://www.amazon.com/Ministering-Millennials-Understand-Reach-Equip/dp/1948022028/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&qid=1524054062&sr=8-2&keywords=ministering+to+millennials&linkCode=sl1&tag=millennialevangelical-20&linkId=1c727291eaa8a9bb0b06bcfa79a505ca

In our second episode, Sean sits down with Alex Strauch best known for his book “Biblical Eldership.” They discuss the Bible’s teaching on the biblical qualifications of church leadership. For more on Alex and his work visit his author page. Thanks for joining us!