Surprised by Jesus - Luke 19:28-44: Triumphal entries. Usually, we think of a military battle or conquest where victory is discovered! In Jesus' case, the entry was certainly the highlight of the week in terms of public adulation. Things went significantly downhill after that first Palm Sunday. A week that began with shouts of “Hosanna!” ended with cries of “Crucify Him!” We'll look at Jesus' remarkable, purposeful entry into Jerusalem and reflect on the ways we allow or expect Him to enter our stories. This will be an encouraging weekend with great stories of great entry points into a great life with Jesus! Bless you all and I look forward to being together as we enter Passion Week!

Identity Crisis - Ephesians 6:10-24: Sometimes we say, “Things are not always as they appear to be,” or, “there is more to it than meets the eye.” While we may find that we live much of our lives in the here and now, it is vital that we use the occasions that come our way to probe below the surface of our lives. We have that opportunity this weekend as we explore what it means to be a warrior in a struggle that exists not in the physical dimension, but in the spiritual realms. The great news is that in our struggle we are far from being powerless, and we have all the resources of the God of the universe at our disposal. I look forward to joining you this weekend as we conclude our Identity Crisis series in Ephesians! See you soon!

Identity Crisis - Ephesians 5:21-6:4: Family: few things in life bring us greater joy and greater frustration … sometimes in the same day! Family is so sacred to our God that He uses it to describe the relationship we are invited to have with Him. This weekend, we get to dive into some very specific teaching about how family life is intended to be lived and explored. We'll look at a few passages from Ephesians 5 and 6 that are beautiful, complicated, and controversial but, once understood and embraced, serve as a pathway to life abundant. Come with an open and expectant heart; I believe some families might just be transformed this weekend! Praying for you and our time together!

Identity Crisis - Ephesians 5:10-20: A friend of mine asked me a question the other day: “Is there enough joy in your life?” I initially answered him: “I guess that depends on how one defines enough!” How would you answer the question? Is there enough joy in your life? Enough peace? Passion? Hope? What motivated you to get out of bed this morning? Was there a sense of anticipation that God had given you another day to live and love and learn and serve? At the heart of Christianity is an invitation to a life with Jesus at the center. We're going to delve deeper into these questions and engage with some incredibly helpful and hopeful challenges from Ephesians 5. Have a great weekend – stay warm, stay safe, and I'll see you here!

Identity Crisis - Ephesians 4:17-5:9: This is going to be an amazing weekend! We'll take a few minutes to remember and celebrate the incredibly impactful life and ministry of Billy Graham and consider his core message (God loves you) - how does our response to that message ultimately shape our lives? We'll also reflect on what a committed life looks like for us and we might even talk a little about baptism... and just... "wait and see what happens!" I'm so excited to worship Jesus together with you! Have a blessed weekend and I look forward to being with you at one of our services.

Identity Crisis - Ephesians 4:1-16: Have you been watching the Winter Olympics taking place in PyeongChang? Obviously, one of the big stories is how the rival nations of North and South Korea have been able to set political tensions aside, even marching into the opening ceremonies under a single unification flag. And while this symbolic gesture provides a measure of hope, we all realize that the pathway to true reconciliation between these two nations – who are still technically at war – is unbelievably complicated. As it turns out, unity is not only complicated between nations, but also within the church. Thankfully in Ephesians 4, the apostle Paul shows us a way forward. Join us this weekend as we discover some essential ways that we can make real the kind of connectedness that Christ has made possible. Can't wait to see you!

Identity Crisis - Ephesians 3:4-21: I always feel a certain “weight” each time I teach at Foothills … but this weekend, I sense it even more deeply! The prayer we will study in Ephesians 3 is centered on the truth that in Jesus we are dearly loved, and it's our understanding of that love that truly transforms our stories. We will begin the message with a powerful monologue about the lies we easily believe: the labels we allow to shape our conclusions about who we are, and how others view us. I hope you will be able to join us as we work to contrast these lies with the truth of how God views us: we are a beloved people! Loved more than we could even dare to dream! Please be praying for God to move in our midst and for truth to be embraced and celebrated. Pray that this will be a transforming weekend for many. I so look forward to being with you all!

Identity Crisis - Ephesians 3:1-13: There was a really popular little booklet published when I was a student called The Tyranny of the Urgent. It begins with this question: “Have you ever wished for a thirty hour day?” Surely this extra time would relieve the tremendous pressure under which we live. Our lives leave a trail of unfinished tasks: unanswered letters, unvisited friends, and unread books haunt our quiet moments when we stop to evaluate. We desperately need relief. But would a thirty hour day really solve the problem? This weekend, from Paul's letter to the Ephesians, we'll spend some time remembering that God has an amazing plan and purpose for our lives - to settle for anything less would be a failure of epic proportions! One of the great tragedies of life is failing to understand the wonder of what God wants to do in and through our lives. Hopefully this weekend will propel us deeper into God's heart for us and the calling of God upon our lives. (And we will discover that a thirty hour day is not the solution we need most in life!) Looking forward to worshipping with you!

Identity Crisis - Ephesians 2:11-22: During this cold snap of weather we are thankful for the walls in our houses that keep us safe and warm. However, throughout history we have also used walls to keep others out, and we have been people who have been kept out. This exclusion can cause a crisis in our identity. What do we do with the walls that people put up around us? The book of Ephesians reminds us of our true identity and that Jesus broke down all the walls! I hope that you'll join us this weekend!

Identity Crisis - Ephesians 2:1-10: Treadmills. Many of us have one in our basements. Some are used as an exercise aide. More often they become entities that we hang our clothing upon. It’s been said that treadmills, when used for their intended purpose, give us something to do but don’t take us anywhere. Sometimes we find ourselves on a treadmill in life… always having something to do but not really getting anywhere. Our passage this weekend from Ephesians 2 reminds us that we are all in desperate need of salvation and presents the danger of our unredeemed condition: the not-really-getting-anywhere condition. It also presents for us an answer that looks nothing like a “treadmill life.” Come and be amazed and inspired and transformed by the wondrous gift of God’s grace in our lives. It’s a gift that keeps on giving and we will celebrate it this weekend! Be safe … be amazed … be joyful … be grateful! Ian Trigg - Lead Pastor