The beginning of the book of Judges is almost like walking through a museum exhibit.  We see Israel's victories and defeats as well as their courage and cowardice. Within this ancient exhibit however is a challenge for us in our modern world: will we drive out the dangerous idols that lurk in the shadows of our own heart?

The book of Judges is messy. It can be bloody. It can be disturbing. And it can be complicated for our modern minds to understand. However, this ancient book can also give us a tremendous amount of wisdom and insight if we take the time to look. This week, we begin our study in Judges by overviewing what the message of the book is for us today. 

The conclusion of the book of Joshua calls us to make a choice.  Will we serve the idols that lurk around us, promising fulfillment but delivering death? Or will we serve the true God of life? This week, to walk us up to the book of Judges, Student Pastor David Guess takes us through Joshua 24.

As we finish walking through the book of Colossians, the big reveal is that Paul is actually waiting in prison as he writes this letter and in so doing he shows us the secret to waiting in hard places. We do not need better techniques or a better work ethic;  what we need is a bigger God. What we need is to once and for all see Jesus for who He is - the Creator, Sustainer and Ruler of the Universe.

Experiencing the overwhelming glory, greatness, and gospel of Jesus changes everything. There is not one square inch in the universe and in our lives that He does not emphatically  declare, "Mine." Once  we experience this type of Overview Effect, Colossians 3:22-4:2 tells us that the way we approach and do our work is completely transformed.

When we truly see Jesus for who He is, everything changes and no part of our lives is left untouched. Because we have experienced the greatness and Gospel of Jesus, the Overview Effect as we have been calling it, everything that we say and do is done first and foremost in His name. In Colossians 3:18-21, we see that this includes our relationships with our spouses, kids, and parents.

Spiritual growth does not entail earning, but it does require effort. This week, Rob Watt of Mars Hill Ministries takes us through Colossians 3:1-11 where the apostle Paul teaches how to grow in our faith by putting down, mortifying, killing  the sin in our lives. As the Puritan John Owen once wrote, "Be killing sin or sin will be killing you."  

The church is God's demonstration community on earth displaying His love, grace, mercy holiness, and justice  among His other attributes.  This week, Youth Minister David Guess  takes us through Colossians 3:12-17, practically showing us what  God's ideal for church life looks like.

From their humble beginnings in the early church, deacons in the church have had been guardians of church unity and problem solvers. This week, we look at Acts 6 and consider who deacons are, what they should be doing and why we should all have the heartbeat of deacons even if we don't hold the official office.

One of the most insidious things about idols is that they can take the form of anything - including religious practices. In the church at Colossae, there were those teaching things that amounted to shadows all the while the actual substance, the real thing, was available. We wouldn't seek shadows over substance would we? Spoiler: we would and we do but Jesus offers a better way.