The Book of Acts is exactly what we need to explore as we wrestle with the questions of "Why Church"? and "What is Church?" After all, this collective of stories are formed in a narrative with the likely intent of helping the early congregations remember their story. Pastor Glenn Packiam begins our series in the Book of Acts by exploring what it means to wait. Waiting is what forms us as the people of God and fills us with the power of God, making us ready each day to live as an outpost of the Kingdom of God here on earth.

What does it mean to live like Jesus has risen? Does it mean our evacuation plan has been secured and so we just wait it out? Or does it mean that we try to take the world by force? Or is there a different way altogether to see Jesus? resurrection? A careful look at the way the first followers of Jesus saw Jesus? resurrection shows that they saw it as a sign that the rightful King has taken His place and a new community and a new way of living has begun in the world. Unpacking Ephesians 4-5, Pastor Glenn Packiam shows how we can live like Jesus has risen? with an extraordinary, self-giving love? because we are dearly loved children of God who are being filled with Spirit of God.

On Easter Sunday, Pastor Glenn Packiam gives the inaugural message at new life DOWNTOWN, calling Jesus' resurrection the "most explosive thing there is." We explore the lives of three people in John's gospel-- Mary the Outsider, Thomas the Wounded, and Peter the Failure-- as they experience what the risen Christ does to the "dead ends" in their own stories.

Pastor Glenn Packiam continues the ?Legends & Misfits? series with a look at the young King David in 2 Samuel 6 compared to an older King David in 2 Samuel 11. What is it that changes us from being free and open-handed to being controlling and closed-handed? The truth is, the tighter we grasp, the less we have and the smaller our world becomes. Discover how grateful worship can open us up once again to our gracious and generous God.

"As part of the 'Legends & Misfits' series, we will be taking the next few weeks to look at aspects of the life of David. In this talk, Pastor Glenn Packiam explores David as the warrior who learns how God works with where he is and who he is. But the most pivotal part of David's victory is the understanding that God wins in a different way, a truth that becomes clear in the life of Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of David, in whom we have victory over the enemy."

Pastor Glenn continues the Legends and Misfits series with an exploration of the book of Ruth. Ruth is a story about loyalty. It's ultimately about how God remains loyal to us even when we feel like He has turned His back on us. But it is also about how, through our loyalty to others, we can let people know that God has not walked out on them.

Pastor Glenn Packiam continues the "Legends and Misfits" series with an exploration of the key moments in Joshua's and Caleb's stories. As it turns out, we find ourselves in a similar position to Joshua and Caleb. We have been called to redeem and reclaim the land, colonizing earth with the culture of heaven. But we find the world to be "enemy-occupied" territory. How do we follow Christ, bringing his reign to every area and sphere of our lives? Joshua and Caleb have something to tell us about that.

Is it possible to serve God in the midst of a wicked or "worldly" environment? The story of Joseph says, "Yes." As Pastor Glenn teaches through the Joseph story, he explores questions that resonate with us about how we handle the promises God gives, the temptations we have, the adversity that befalls us, and the influence that we may gain.