Ever wish you could have a “do-over”? Ever find yourself wishing that you could somehow have a second chance? We’ve all had those times when we wish life would give us a mulligan and let us change some things. We’ve all been through days where we longed for the chance to tell a different story with the lives we’ve been given. Throughout Luke’s Gospel, Jesus comes into contact with people from all different walks of life. A Roman Centurion. A woman trapped in sin. A grieving widow. A rich young ruler. Yet, for all their differences, these people had one thing in common. Once they encountered Jesus, He rewrote their stories. He forever changed their lives. He can do the same for us. Jesus is more than willing to offer us a fresh start — a Rewrite to our own personal stories. All we have to do is hand Him the pen.

Selected Quotes:

Jesus encounters a story filled with death and makes it a story of life.

Jesus sobs over the presence and the effects of death. His love is evident.

This is the hope of the Gospel. Death is not the end. It doesn’t get the final word. Jesus takes our stories of death and rewrites them to be stories of life.

Ever wish you could have a “do-over”? Ever find yourself wishing that you could somehow have a second chance? We’ve all had those times when we wish life would give us a mulligan and let us change some things. We’ve all been through days where we longed for the chance to tell a different story with the lives we’ve been given.

Throughout Luke’s Gospel, Jesus comes into contact with people from all different walks of life. A Roman Centurion. A woman trapped in sin. A grieving widow. A rich young ruler. Yet, for all their differences, these people had one thing in common. Once they encountered Jesus, He rewrote their stories. He forever changed their lives. He can do the same for us. Jesus is more than willing to offer us a fresh start — a Rewrite to our own personal stories. All we have to do is hand Him the pen.

Selected Quotes:

Jesus is the restorer. He’s the One who makes everything right.

Jesus takes our stories of brokenness and hurt and turns them into stories of healing and wholeness.

Sin dehumanizes us. It makes us nothing more than the sum of our desires. It turns us into slaves of our passions.

Sin gives the illusion of freedom. It’s only later that it reveals its true nature as slavery.

Our mission and ministry start at home. We begin here. We start at the kitchen table. We take the Gospel out into the streets. We share our restored lives with our community.

Ever wish you could have a “do-over”? Ever find yourself wishing that you could somehow have a second chance? We’ve all had those times when we wish life would give us a mulligan and let us change some things. We’ve all been through days where we longed for the chance to tell a different story with the lives we’ve been given.

Throughout Luke’s Gospel, Jesus comes into contact with people from all different walks of life. A Roman Centurion. A woman trapped in sin. A grieving widow. A rich young ruler. Yet, for all their differences, these people had one thing in common. Once they encountered Jesus, He rewrote their stories. He forever changed their lives. He can do the same for us. Jesus is more than willing to offer us a fresh start — a Rewrite to our own personal stories. All we have to do is hand Him the pen.

Selected Quotes:

Peace is not the default setting for our lives. But, Jesus sends us into it.

There is no peace to be found in comparing ourselves to the people around us.

We only find peace when we turn to Jesus and confess that we need Him.

In chess, the Endgame is the third and final phase of the game. At this point, most of the pieces have been cleared from the board. The outcome of the game draws closer with every move. Each king begins his final march, hoping that the victory will be his. The only question that's left is which king will emerge victorious? Which king will win in the Endgame? In Luke 19, we read the story of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. This is the event that kicks off the final week of His life. More than that, it's the event that sets His Endgame into motion. Over the course of the next week, most of the pieces will be cleared from the board. The end of His life will draw nearer with every passing step. By Friday, the King will be dead. But, what no one could have expected was that the King had one final move to make.

Selected Quotes:

"Everything that happened to Jesus was part of the plan. It was foretold years in advance. God knew what needed to happen. He was still on His throne."

"God redeemed the cross. He took this symbol of death and turned it into a symbol of life. If He can do that – if He can redeem the cross – then He can use anything in our lives."

"The resurrection, though incredible, is not unbelievable. There are reasons for faith. There is evidence we can trust. The resurrection was an actual, historical event that offers proof to the doubting."

Do we boast in our talent, power, wealth, relationships? Listen in on Good Friday (April 14, 2017) as Brandon Braun unpacks what Paul meant when he says he only boasts in the cross of Christ.

In chess, the Endgame is the third and final phase of the game. At this point, most of the pieces have been cleared from the board. The outcome of the game draws closer with every move. Each king begins his final march, hoping that the victory will be his. The only question that's left is which king will emerge victorious? Which king will win in the Endgame? In Luke 19, we read the story of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. This is the event that kicks off the final week of His life. More than that, it's the event that sets His Endgame into motion. Over the course of the next week, most of the pieces will be cleared from the board. The end of His life will draw nearer with every passing step. By Friday, the King will be dead. But, what no one could have expected was that the King had one final move to make.

Selected Quotes:

"Jesus ended the separation between God and men."

"Have you ever felt betrayed? Have you ever had one of your friends turn on you? Jesus has been there."

"Have you ever felt let down? Have you felt like the people in your life just aren't coming through? Jesus has been there."

"Have you ever felt falsely accused? Felt like people are judging you unfairly? Jesus has been there."

In chess, the Endgame is the third and final phase of the game. At this point, most of the pieces have been cleared from the board. The outcome of the game draws closer with every move. Each king begins his final march, hoping that the victory will be his. The only question that's left is which king will emerge victorious? Which king will win in the Endgame?

In Luke 19, we read the story of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. This is the event that kicks off the final week of His life. More than that, it's the event that sets His Endgame into motion. Over the course of the next week, most of the pieces will be cleared from the board. The end of His life will draw nearer with every passing step. By Friday, the King will be dead. But, what no one could have expected was that the King had one final move to make.

Selected Quotes:

"Everything that happened during Passover was just a whisper of something to come."

"Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of the Passover feast!"

"Jesus is pointing us toward the truth that he is the ultimate fulfillment of this meal."

"When Jesus sits down to share in this meal with His disciples, He is about to provide the ultimate exodus from the tyranny of sin and death."

"When we gather around the table, we’re remembering the historical reality of the Good Friday events."

"One of the ways that eternity is described through the Bible is as a feast."

In chess, the Endgame is the third and final phase of the game. At this point, most of the pieces have been cleared from the board. The outcome of the game draws closer with every move. Each king begins his final march, hoping that the victory will be his. The only question that's left is which king will emerge victorious? Which king will win in the Endgame?

In Luke 19, we read the story of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. This is the event that kicks off the final week of His life. More than that, it's the event that sets His Endgame into motion. Over the course of the next week, most of the pieces will be cleared from the board. The end of His life will draw nearer with every passing step. By Friday, the King will be dead. But, what no one could have expected was that the King had one final move to make.

Selected Quotes:

"The final week of Jesus’ life doesn’t begin with this happy flannel graph parade. It begins with controversy. It begins with an act of war."

"Its not about you. Jesus brought you here. He gave you talents. He gave you opportunities. It’s not yours. It’s not about you."

"We may want God to be kind and loving, but we need Him to be just. We need Him to set things right."

‘The One’ Series Blurb

"Who is Jesus?"

For years, mankind has wrestled with this question. Some say Jesus is our Savior. Others say He's no more than a great teacher. Some say Jesus was a social revolutionary. Others claim He was God in the flesh. Regardless of where they come from, everyone has an opinion about Him.

So, who was Jesus? The Gospel of Luke tells us a lot about Jesus' identity. It tells us that He is the Messiah. It tells us that He is the Christ. He is the "Son of Man," the "Son of David," and the "Son of God." He’s the One with all authority and power. He’s the One with all glory and honor. He’s the One who history revolves around. He is no mere man. He is “The One.”

Selected Quotes:

"Jesus' Kingdom is different. If you want to be first, you have to be last."

"Jesus is encouraging us to orient our minds around the things that last."

"Jesus tells us that love is a choice."

"God loved us even when we were unlovable."

"Who is Jesus?"

For years, mankind has wrestled with this question. Some say Jesus is our Savior. Others say He's no more than a great teacher. Some say Jesus was a social revolutionary. Others claim He was God in the flesh. Regardless of where they come from, everyone has an opinion about Him.

So, who was Jesus? The Gospel of Luke tells us a lot about Jesus' identity. It tells us that He is the Messiah. It tells us that He is the Christ. He is the "Son of Man," the "Son of David," and the "Son of God." He’s the One with all authority and power. He’s the One with all glory and honor. He’s the One who history revolves around. He is no mere man. He is “The One.”

Selected Quotes:

"Christianity, at its root, is about forgiveness."

"No what who we hurt with our sin, God is the most hurt. [But], what we find in Jesus is that the person we have hurt the most has come to forgive us."

"We come to Jesus with all of our mess and He takes it."

"The Gospel is the picture of a Great Exchange. He takes our sin upon Himself and offers us forgiveness in exchange."