As the Church, we are called to not only form tight-knit communities being formed in discipleship together, but to extend that as we make disciples of all nations. How are we moving beyond the boundaries typically drawn by society, culture, and even our own prejudices in order to bring the good news of Jesus to all the people it is meant for?

How can the Church reflect the image of Christ by being an embodied and locally-rooted presence, having an intentionality in the place God has us?

Our practices and rhythms shape and form who we are. What are the intentional habits you have put into practice to allow yourself to be transformed into the image of Jesus? How are you engaging in life-forming patterns and practices with your community in order to be formed together?

What does it look like to be a tight-knit community, united in Jesus, in the midst of the individualism and tribalism of our culture?

Our Christmas Eve service. Jesus is the light of the world and that light has entered into the darkness. May we see him and see life more clearly through him.

Love is not a dopamine high, but the continual keeping of covenant commitment.

intentional. relational. sacrificial. missional.

*Edit: where Chris cites marriage & divorce in Exodus it is actually chapter 21:10-11, not chapter 34.

Joy is not fleeting happiness, but a steady source of satisfaction rooted in an eternal outcome - not a temporary circumstance.

Hope is not just wishful thinking, but a confident assurance in what God will do based on what He has already done. We have a hope that will get us through anything this world throws at us because Jesus has come, and he is coming again.

This first week of Advent we look at how Jesus brings peace to the world. Peace is not merely quiet, calm, nor inner tranquility. It is all things working together as they should, so that the world flourishes. It is wholeness. It is Shalom. Jesus rights all wrongs, brings justice and healing, and invites us to experience true peace.

The book of Acts comes to an anti-climactic end in chapter 28. We never hear about Paul standing before Caesar. There is little conflict from the Jewish leaders there. We never hear whether he made it to Spain afterward. It ends with him living in his own rented home for two years, continuing to share the Good News. The Story does not end here, because the Story is not over. It continues with you and I.

In a sense, Acts ends as it started. It was a continuation of all Jesus began to do through the Spirit — which he now continues through His Spirit at work in his followers.