Renewal Church

Sunday, May 22
Philippians 1:12-26

Toward the end of Philippians 1, the Apostle Paul confessed that he was “hard pressed,” conflicted by two competing desires. On the one hand, he wanted to depart this world and be with Jesus. It wasn’t because he wanted to merely escape the trials of this life, but because he had come to love Jesus so profoundly. He longed to be in the presence of his Lord.

On the other hand, he felt much affection and responsibility for those he had trained in Christ. He knew they would need him for the sake of their own “progress and joy in the faith.”

Paul. Unjustly incarcerated. In barbaric conditions. And what is he wrestling with? Love. His love for Jesus and his love for his young brothers and sisters in Christ.

May God transform our hearts in such a way that we also become more and more hard pressed between these two loves.

Sunday, May 15
Philippians 1:12-18

What do you think about suffering? Besides not liking it, can you see any value to it? Some people say things like, “It will all work out for the good,” or “There’s a reason for this.” That may be true, but there’s something even holier, more divine, and more meaningful related to our afflictions. In Philippians 1:13, the Apostle Paul asserted that his “imprisonment is for Christ.” Though he’d prefer deliverance (1:19), he didn’t view suffering as something to escape at all costs. Nor did he view suffering merely as a pathway to a more “blessed” future. His suffering was filled with divine purpose as it became the unexpected occasion for Paul to joyously demonstrate his devotion to Jesus and, even deeper, to reveal the infinite worth and beauty of Jesus! An outsider might have observed, “How wonderful must this Christ be that this man would so willingly suffer for him, and do it with joy?” Truly, as Paul said, “to live is Christ” (1:21).

Sunday, May 8
Philippians 1:1-11

We begin a new series on the Letter of Philippians, Pressing On. It’s about a small congregation in the heart of the militaristic and calloused Roman Empire whose very existence could elicit threats and danger. It’s about a community of believers – imperfect as all such communities are – whom Paul referred to as “saints.” And it’s about the preserving power of the Holy Spirit in these and all believers’ lives, which is why the he could assert that, despite all the adverse pressure, God would complete the work he began in them. And in us.

Sunday, May 1
Acts 3:1-10

God’s Love for the Struggling
- Psalm 41:1 (NIV)
- Proverbs 19:17 (NIV)
- Psalm 35:10 (NIV)
- Psalm 68:5 (NIV)
400 Scriptures refer to the poor...

If God means it, what keeps me from engaging?
1. We define who is deserving
2. Unwilling to engage for the long haul or deeply
3. Our desire for stuff
4. Living as if our resources are limited
Isaiah 58:10 (NIV)

Three things Peter and John gave Away
(A Template for our faith)
1. Time
2. Respect
3. Jesus I Peter 4:11 (NIV)
Result: Amazement!

Sunday, April 24
1 Corinthians 15:1-11

The Apostle Paul founded a church in the ancient city of Corinth. Like much of the Greek world, it was pagan and decadent. Sadly, some of the values and assumptions of the surrounding society began to creep back up in the Corinthian church, leading to a host of scandalous dysfunctions requiring Paul’s urgent attention. He addresses these issues and as he begins to conclude his letter, he reminds them of the most important thing he ever shared with them: the gospel. He reminds them that the gospel is their foundation and the animating force of their lives. He reminds them that that they heard him preach the gospel, they received the gospel, they stand in it, and are they are being saved by it. It’s not just a doctrine or an idea; it’s the power of God. Those who experience renewal in Jesus are those whose lives are nourished in the gospel. But what does this mean? What is the gospel? How do we engage it leading to our transformation?

Easter Sunday
April 17 - John 20

It’s the morning of the first Easter. Mary Magdalene stands outside the garden tomb in tears. Traumatized from witnessing the torture and death of her Lord, she’s mustered all her strength to come and tend to his body. But he’s gone! Was killing him not enough? Now they resort to stealing his body?

She can’t bear the pain. She breaks down. It seems as though her tears carry more than her own pain – she bears witness to the sorrow of all of human history. All the suffering. All the sin. All the loss. But before she collapses in despair, a voice speaks to her.

“Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”

She turns and everything changes. Everything.

That same voice speaks to us today. It’s an invitation. To seek Jesus. The one who has the words of Spirit and life. He who is the resurrection from the dead. The one on whom we can cast every care, every wound, every addiction, every shame, every tragedy, every death.

In our tears he speaks to us. Who are you seeking?

Will you turn to face him?

Palm Sunday, April 10
John 12:1-36

We come to what many see as Jesus’ final sign — his triumphal entry into Jerusalem where a multitude greeted him with waved palm branches (hence, Palm Sunday). What might seem like a strange act of worship made a lot of sense back then. Almost 200 years earlier, the Jewish liberator, Judas Maccabaeus, overthrew ruthless Greek invaders, ending centuries of their dominion of Israel. His followers then entered Jerusalem waving palm branches in celebration that they had a new king. The Jews of Jesus’ day also had liberation in mind. Jesus had recently raised a man from the dead! Surely this is the Messiah who would deliver Israel from the Romans. Surely, they would finally be ruled by the Messiah. But Jesus’ idea of freedom was more far-reaching and thorough than anyone could have imagined. We hope you join us this Sunday as we continue our series in the Gospel of John.

In John 11, Jesus raised a his close friend, Lazarus, from the dead. This is a story that is as strange as it is astounding. Why did Jesus wait two days once he got word that Lazarus was deathly ill? Why did Jesus allow Lazarus’ sisters, Mary and Martha, to grieve the death of their beloved brother when he could’ve immediately healed him? In this passage, we see the goodness of God, but we’re also faced with the question of just how good God really is. We hope you will worship with us this Sunday as we engage this incredible text and are humbled by both God’s mystery and his steadfast love for us.

Jesus has just fed the 5,000 – one of his “signs” as highlighted in John’s Gospel. He will soon reveal that he is the true bread from heaven and whoever feeds on this bread will live forever. But, right in between these two passages, we find the disciples on a boat with the wind blowing and the waters churning. As Jesus approaches the boat, the disciples see him walking on water, to which Christ responds, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” Why would Jesus choose to walk upon the water as he journeys toward the disciples' boat? Join us this Sunday as we dive further into this unique encounter between Jesus and his disciples.

Sunday, March 20
John 9:1-41

Jesus was and is unceasingly remarkable! In John 9, he healed a blind man. This man who was once confined to darkness now had sight – something we all take for granted. He could now make his way around in the world on his own. But Jesus is always up to more than we realize because he also gave this man spiritual sight. Where God was once a shadow to this man, he was now bursting forth in vivid color. This man could now make his way around the world with God’s heart and God’s perspective. We all need new eyes to navigate this world. May the power of Jesus open all of our eyes!