Peter lays out the foundation for a life of service for God's people with a simple premise: we serve because we have been served. That means a unique gifting for all of God's people to be hospitable to the strangers around them. This is where real healing starts.

Paul makes an assumption that Titus and the people he leads need to be "trained" to renounce ungodliness and live upright lives. But the whole project has to be powerfully rooted in the grace of God that has appeared in my past and will appear again in my future!

When John starts to unpack the reason for his letter, he uses a power packed word that we (weakly) translate as "fellowship." But he's talking about so much more. He's talking about a powerful connection that exists among God's people.

The writer of Hebrews makes a dramatic statement about how essential it is that we be aware and commit to being together in public worship. Truth is: we take on the attributes of our Tribe. Why that's the case is the topic for this week's discussion.

We should be curious about any church we join "what do you want to see in me? What do you want to shape me into as a person?" We call this topic "spiritual formation" and Paul gives us some fascinating insight into how a Christian uniquely thinks about it.

Jesus ends the sermon on the mount by walking his followers through three barriers to genuine faith. False teachers, self-deception and bad foundations can all keep us from being what Jesus is forming in us. How can we make it through?

The pandemic has taken a dramatic toll on Americans anxiety and depression. But Jesus tells us not to worry. Turns out, he then proceeds to give his followers powerful tools to erode their worry from the inside out.

It's easy to get over-spiritual as Christians and assume that God isn't interested in the "mundane" things of life: jobs, hobbies, recreation, relationships. But the second half of the Lord's Prayer leads us directly in Jesus' take on our day to day lives.

The integrity of the Good Life requires that our prayers be more than self interested grocery lists. But how do we do that? Jesus model prayer gives his followers a framework for praying that keeps us focused on WHO exactly we're praying to.

Jesus knows us very well. The minute that genuine piety enters our daily practice, the sinful heart looks for ways to take credit for it. Before long, all our piety is nothing but a show. But Jesus has great wisdom for hypocrites and genuine faith.