This week, we conclude our series on the sabbath by looking at what it means to practice sabbath for the sake of others.

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This week, we take another look at the invitation by Jesus to come and rest. This invitation, however, goes deeper than to simply have a day off to relax. It is an invitation into a place and time we were create to dwell in at the beginning of time. A place where God's presence and blessing intertwine and we can reside in safety, security, and stability.

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Taking a sabbath day to rest is a pattern that was established at the beginning of time and has been hardwired into the fabric of creation. This is why Jesus invites us to "come and rest"--to embrace his way of life. The danger, however, is that when we don't slow down, we run the risk of a slow death--killing not only our relationship, but ourselves in the process.

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Statistically speaking 6 out of every 10 people feel high levels of stress, accompanied by extreme fatigue, feeling out of control. The invitation by Jesus is to come and stop. But, how do we stop in the midst of work deadlines, family expectations, and the voice inside that says, "Keep going"? This week, we look at the ancient practice of "shabbat" and we explore how we can actually "stop" so that we don't collapse.

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Easter is one of the most well-known holidays in the church calendar. Yet, what often happens is that we forget it comes on the heels of one of the greatest catastrophes in human history. In light of this catastrophe, however, comes hope that our present suffering is passing because the kingdom has come and God is close.

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All of us have a vision statement--a guiding principle around which we orient our lives. Dale Bruner says, “The lamp of one’s life is one’s goal; if your goal is sound, your whole life will be luminous. But if your goal is wrong, your whole life will be darkness.” Today, we look at the goals that control us and ask the question: "What would it look like to have them oriented around the Kingdom?"

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This week, we look at a teaching by Jesus that one scholar calls “an assault on the whole human race.” This teaching in particular is not easy because it deals with two things that we often use to define who we are: status and security. However, what discover when looking at this teaching is that Jesus is not merely trying to use guilt or shame to manipulate us into behaving a certain way. Instead, he’s inviting us into something better—a way to finally experience freedom from the anxiety of trying to get more “stuff.” 

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During this series, we've been looking at Jesus' warning to his apprentices in Matthew 6:1: "Beware of practicing your righteousness in front of others in order to be seen by them. For then, you will have no reward from your Father in the heavens." This week, we look at the spiritual practice of fasting: what is it, why should we do it, and what does Jesus have to say about it. 

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During this series, we've been looking at Jesus' warning to his apprentices in Matthew 6:1: "Beware of practicing your righteousness in front of others in order to be seen by them. For then, you will have no reward from your Father in the heavens." This week, we look at vs. 5-15 (the familiar "Lord's Prayer") and discover Jesus' desire for us as his followers to be the place where the heavens and the earth collide as we converse with the Father through the practice of prayer.

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Last week, we looked at how our motivation for practicing good works should not be the approval of others, but instead the presence of God. This week, Jesus is pinpointing exactly what that looks like and he starts by confronting those who are actors in the Theater of Social Justice. 

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