Epiclesis

Just because you are going through tough times does not mean you are doing something wrong or being punished. God could be making room in your life for a blessing. But blessings often come with testing, and through this process we can experience the presence of Jesus. Your problems might be your promotion.

Growing up, Pastor Chris was taught that you just don’t ask a person how much something costs. It was rude-- or even worse, tacky. But in today's Scripture, Jesus talks about asking what something costs, and he encourages his disciples to do some budgeting on one particular and important item... Join us!

Jesus dines with Pharisees and turns upside down the notion of community shared meals. He challenges them to consider God’s kingdom values of humility, compassion, joy, and other-centered love. Freedom from slavery to self, anxiety based on one’s relative importance to others, seeking recognition and the obligation to oneself by others is found in submitting oneself to the reign of God!

Ever been called a hypocrite? Jesus surely called out some in this passage of Scripture. He's been preaching about the Kingdom of God, and now in spectacular fashion He shows just how radical it is.

The world surely is changing all around us. But do you still see the Kingdom?

Join Pastor Chris for a look at the meaning of the word "hypocrite" and at the Kingdom of God.

In John 12, Jesus is speaking in parables and talking about the Kingdom of God. Then things seem to change radically: He says, "I have come to set the world on fire," and "Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other!" Ever think of Jesus as a divider? Join us!

Just after telling the parable of the rich man building bigger barns, Jesus tells His followers not to fear because God has been pleased to give them the Kingdom. Then comes another parable-- a story about a good master and his ready servants. Join Pastor Chris as he shares what we can learn about the Ultimate Master and why we don't need to FOMO-- fear of missing out.

Jesus had a great sense of humor, and Pastor Chris says that you might have to look a little more closely to see it-- and hear it. But you might also have to push past some embedded theology and hear Scripture read in a different way. Join him as he reads a familiar parable of Jesus, then points out some wonderfully funny places that will delight and challenge you. How are you spending "your" resources? Are you building bigger barns?

On this Sunday, we explore Genesis 18. Noting the rhythm of revelation and response in the story, we consider the Lord’s ultimate goal for His visit with Abraham and the actual core of our faith and relationship with the Lord.

The Scripture passage is a wonderful, well-known story, and it involves a meal. But it also involves a culture shock. Ever thought about the episode of Mary and Martha in Luke 10 as clash of cultures? Join Pastor Chris as he looks at the radical nature of the Kingdom of God and the values it calls us to.

Part three of a trio of a conversations with Dr. Teresa Gardner about the fall retreat she's leading for us titled "Finding Jesus in the Feasts." Teresa is the director of the Zion Center for Worship and the Arts and is coming to Sacramento with ten of her dancers on October 21-22, 2022. In this final installment, Teresa talks about the third feast we'll be focusing on: Tabernacles. Did you know that Teresa is bringing a troupe of dancers with her to help us learn and celebrate the feasts?!