We ask what our place is so we can find a way to fit in. The Good News that God has given us in Jesus Christ is that we have a place. We don't have to seek a place in order to belong. This makes all the difference. We we are seeking a place in order to belong, we do so with a shadow of fear because our belonging and worthiness of love is on the line. When we start with the given that we have a place, then we can explore ourselves and our community for our 'best fit' in peace and excitement we are not hoping to fit in, we already belong. We are already received our worthiness of love and connection from God and it cannot be taken away. Now we are just livin' and explorin'! Do I know what your place is in the big picture? No, only you can know that. But I do know for sure that without question you have a place in the big picture. In Jesus Christ, you are God's child and worthy of love and belonging just as you are. Don't seek a feeling of belonging by finding your fit. Belong and then find your fit.

Last week (1/13/13) Pastor John drove home the point that we are infinitely loved by God. He sees us as his children and longs for us to see him as our father. Our sense of our worthiness of our love and belonging does not come from our production, talent or effort, but simply by virtue of God's love. In this message, Pastor John reminds us that we need to integrate this identity into the foundational choices we make every day. We must choose not to let others define who we are, choose short-term pain for long-term gain, choose God's values instead of the worlds and choose to live by faith rather than fear. These ground-level choices need ongoing support in order for them to take hold in our lives. We must decide to form and maintain faith-building relationships and resolve to put Christ at the center of everything in our lives.

Last week (1/13/13) Pastor John drove home the point that we are infinitely loved by God. He sees us as his children and longs for us to see him as our father. Our sense of our worthiness of our love and belonging does not come from our production, talent or effort, but simply by virtue of God's love. In this message, Pastor John reminds us that we need to integrate this identity into the foundational choices we make every day. We must choose not to let others define who we are, choose short-term pain for long-term gain, choose God's values instead of the worlds and choose to live by faith rather than fear. These ground-level choices need ongoing support in order for them to take hold in our lives. We must decide to form and maintain faith-building relationships and resolve to put Christ at the center of everything in our lives.

"Who Am I?" is one of the most important questions anyone can spend time with. Our understanding of who we are affects our feelings about ourselves and our life; our choices and actions; our happiness and peace; and the way we interpret what other people say and do around us. The Bible says that we are a) the pinnacle of God's creation, b) sinners in a broken world, and c) through faith in Christ, redeemed children of God. In accepting God's idea of who we are, we reject all of the pressures of the world that we feel when we look to the world for a sense of worthiness and belonging. We are infinitely valuable children of God. In Christ, we see ourselves as worthy of love and belonging — God has shown us our worth in the death of Jesus Christ. We now live in Christ as God’s dearly beloved children who do things wrong and grow day by day. The shame of “who I am” is gone. We learn and grow in our thoughts, words and actions. We say, “I should not have done that.” But we do not say, “I am such an idiot,” because God has demonstrated his love for us and, therefore, our worthiness of love and belonging through the death and resurrection of Christ. (Here’s a practical hint: If you would not say something to a child you love, do not say it to yourself either because you are a beloved child of God.)

"Who Am I?" is one of the most important questions anyone can spend time with. Our understanding of who we are affects our feelings about ourselves and our life; our choices and actions; our happiness and peace; and the way we interpret what other people say and do around us. The Bible says that we are a) the pinnacle of God's creation, b) sinners in a broken world, and c) through faith in Christ, redeemed children of God. In accepting God's idea of who we are, we reject all of the pressures of the world that we feel when we look to the world for a sense of worthiness and belonging. We are infinitely valuable children of God. In Christ, we see ourselves as worthy of love and belonging — God has shown us our worth in the death of Jesus Christ. We now live in Christ as God’s dearly beloved children who do things wrong and grow day by day. The shame of “who I am” is gone. We learn and grow in our thoughts, words and actions. We say, “I should not have done that.” But we do not say, “I am such an idiot,” because God has demonstrated his love for us and, therefore, our worthiness of love and belonging through the death and resurrection of Christ. (Here’s a practical hint: If you would not say something to a child you love, do not say it to yourself either because you are a beloved child of God.)

In this Epiphany Sunday sermon, Pastor John reviews the visit of the magi with some possibly surprising results. A closer examination of the traditional nativity scene reveals a most unlikely gathering of characters: Jesus (King of the Universe born a human child), Mary (unwed mother), Joseph (carpenter caught up in God's big story), shepherds on the night shift (just about the lowest members of Jewish society) and... what in the world? ... magi from the East? These guys were likely priest/magicians who practiced all sorts of astrology and enchanting arts. Why would God invite shepherds and magi to the birth of his Son? There is a great message in this unlikely assemblage of characters. God's love is so much bigger than we imagine. Hear more in this encouraging sermon from Pastor John.

In this Epiphany Sunday sermon, Pastor John reviews the visit of the magi with some possibly surprising results. A closer examination of the traditional nativity scene reveals a most unlikely gathering of characters: Jesus (King of the Universe born a human child), Mary (unwed mother), Joseph (carpenter caught up in God's big story), shepherds on the night shift (just about the lowest members of Jewish society) and... what in the world? ... magi from the East? These guys were likely priest/magicians who practiced all sorts of astrology and enchanting arts. Why would God invite shepherds and magi to the birth of his Son? There is a great message in this unlikely assemblage of characters. God's love is so much bigger than we imagine. Hear more in this encouraging sermon from Pastor John.

In the Hobbit (and in Lord of the Rings) we see ancient songs of prophecy fulfilled in part not because of might or wisdom but because of simple hobbits who love strongly and try to do the right thing. The hobbits provide an excellent illustration of three truths of biblical prophecy: 1. God is making his word and promises come true. God speaks of the future he willfully brings about (Isaiah 55L:10-11) 2. Prophecy involves people. We are actors, not spectators. God fulfills prophecy through obedient people. (Genesis 12:1-4) 3. Your role is to be the person God calls you to be wherever you find yourself. God has told us that as well as the ultimate fulfillment at the end of time, the kingdom of God is in our midst (Luke 17:21). But like the gift of the promised land to the Israelites, we have to have the faith to take the gift that God is giving us, the gift of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). Taking the gift of the kingdom of God requires the faith to love others in the way God has called us to love them, regardless of how they are treating us. 1 Corinthians 12:27–13:13 (ESV) 27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it… And I will show you a still more excellent way… If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal… 4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things… 13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

In the Hobbit (and in Lord of the Rings) we see ancient songs of prophecy fulfilled in part not because of might or wisdom but because of simple hobbits who love strongly and try to do the right thing. The hobbits provide an excellent illustration of three truths of biblical prophecy: 1. God is making his word and promises come true. God speaks of the future he willfully brings about (Isaiah 55L:10-11) 2. Prophecy involves people. We are actors, not spectators. God fulfills prophecy through obedient people. (Genesis 12:1-4) 3. Your role is to be the person God calls you to be wherever you find yourself. God has told us that as well as the ultimate fulfillment at the end of time, the kingdom of God is in our midst (Luke 17:21). But like the gift of the promised land to the Israelites, we have to have the faith to take the gift that God is giving us, the gift of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). Taking the gift of the kingdom of God requires the faith to love others in the way God has called us to love them, regardless of how they are treating us. 1 Corinthians 12:27–13:13 (ESV) 27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it… And I will show you a still more excellent way… If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal… 4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things… 13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

In this sermon, we meet the prophet Zephaniah. He was born during the reign of horribly wicked kings, but did his prophecy work during the reign of Josiah, a king who was trying to reform the errant ways of God's people. Most of this short book involves judgment on God's people first, then the rest of the world for wickedness. But the last part of Zephaniah's prophecy proclaims the coming day of the Lord when our judgments are taken away, our enemies are cleared away, God himself dwells in our midst and we will never fear again.