INTRO:  For many Christians, the idea of going on missions evokes reluctance, even fear.  And while not everyone is called to be a cross-cultural missionary, each and every disciple in Christ is called to be active in mission. As we start a new sermon series today, what might we learn from the story of Jonah, in both his reluctance but also God's insistence in mission?  How might we start to activate our hearts and lives to join God's missional plan? 

INTRO:  We are often trained to see the world through a zero sum lens.  In other words, where in order for one to gain, there must be a corresponding loss.  However, when it comes to the community of Christ; could it be that it all works another way?  What if making another strong, through the exercise of your gifts actually makes you stronger?  What would it look like for our community to extend our giftedness and strength to each other; in such a way that we all reap the strengthening benefits? 

TEXT:    1Peter 4:7-10    

INTRO: Whether sought, or seen on the screens; we just can't get enough of love.  But love is only real when it is sincere; whole hearted.  Today as we look at a defining characteristic of authentic community in Christ, how can we appropriate the call to love truly; even to the point of boiling in love? 

TEXT:   Acts 2:42-47   

INTRO:  Appearances can be deceiving.  The beauty and nature of a thing isn't always fully grasped through external lenses.  Rather, they often only pointed to through symbol, and revealed through experience. Today as we continue to look at doing community God's way, how might we understand and leverage the sacramental nature of church in practice? 

INTRO:  Amidst an epidemic of loneliness, many find themselves on a quest for community.  But what does community look like, and why is it so hard to find and build? Today as we start a new series on "Forging Community," we will reflect on how we might tap into our hunger for connection toward building biblical community. 

TEXT:  Psalm 139: 23-34; Philippians 3:12-14    

INTRO:  Life feels like it speeds by so fast that we don't know where we've come, much less where we ought to be going.  Today as we note the end of this year, and the coming start of the next; what would it look like to practice the discipline of prayerful reflection and self examination in God's Presence?  

 

TEXT:   Luke 4:14-21   

INTRO: Celebrations are usually tied to an occasion, e.g. a birthday, or a holiday.  But there are special occasions that call for grand celebration, e.g. a 50th year anniversary.  Now imagine how you would celebrate if you were diagnosed with terminal case of cancer, but then declared cancer free?  Or if you were unjustly imprisoned for life, but then set free?  Today as we reflect on Jesus' proclamations of Jubilee in His coming, how might we echo His calls to freedom for the oppressed amidst our celebrations this season? 

TEXT:   Luke 14:12-14; Leviticus 19:33-34    

INTRO:   Hosting family and friends; or being hosted is a central part of our holiday celebrations.  But as we reflect on the true nature of hospitality in Christ, what would it look like for us to gift expressions of hospitality to the vulnerable this season? 

SPEAKER: Pastor Martin Chang

TEXT: Luke 2:1-7; Matthew 2:13-14

INTRO: The season of Christmas has been largely taken over by nostalgic, if not straight up consumer agendas. But at the heart of Christmas is the stunning advent of God in the flesh, into our broken lives and world. Today as we start out our Advent season proper, how might we take into account Jesus' coming into such a vulnerable position. And how might we look to identify with Him by identifying with the vulnerable in and around us?

SPEAKER: Pastor Martin Chang

TEXT: James 1:22, John 14:21

INTRO: For most of us, initiating change in our lives is hard enough. But a good start only gets us so far. The real test for lasting change comes with the follow through. Today as we finish out our GRACE group series on Practicing Devotion, what will following through look like in our first hand spirituality lifestyle? And how might we apply principles of the follow through in our discipleship life in Christ?