As Paul planted churches in Ephesus that would change their city and the world, he emphasized the importance and power of the Holy Spirit. But what's the role of the Holy Spirit in the lives of a community that gathers and scatters, and why does God give the Holy Spirit to begin with? 

Every week we gather around the "bread and the cup" celebrating communion together. But what is communion, why is it the "center" of our gathering, and how should expect to meet with God in that moment? 

Over the next five weeks, we'll take a break from our journey through the book of Matthew to talk about why we gather as a church, why we do what we do, and how we expect to encounter God in the midst of it. In week 1 we unpack the mystery of the body of Christ, and what it means to be a fully functioning church body. 

As Jesus nears the end of his life, he speaks of the end of the age, and the judgment that will occur, as some are ushered into the Kingdom of Heaven and others are turned away. The sheep will be seperated from the goats, Jesus says, and many will be surprised to find that they had been serving (or denying) Jesus without knowing it.  

As Jesus nears the end of his life, he speaks increasingly of his death and resurrection, and also of the age to come. His disciples have questions about when Jesus will return to usher in a new age, and so Jesus answers their questions with a series of parables, highlighting how we are to live in light of his imminent return.

As Jesus teaches his disciples about life in the Kingdom, they struggle with issues of power, greatness, and reward. So Jesus tells them a parable about a landowner who hires workers throughout the day, and pays all of them the same wages, causing outrage among many of them. But how do we interpret this parable and what are the implications for our daily pursuit of Jesus? 

As Jesus teaches his disciples about their joint lives together in the new community that is being formed through him, Peter raises a pressing question: How many times should we forgive a brother or sister who sins against us? Jesus answers Peter with a parable about accounting, and in doing so reveals something profound about the importance of forgiveness and the human vocation as God's image bearers. 

As Jesus teaches his disciples about the Kingdom of God, there is one aspect of Kingdom life that is particularly difficult for the disciples to grasp. So Jesus uses parables and vivid imagery to explain to the disciples what power and greatness look like in his upside down Kingdom. But what do children, sheep, and millstones have to do with power and greatness? 

Parables Series - As Jesus continues to teach his discioples about the Kingdom of Heaven, he compares it to treasure found in a field, or a precious pearl, but he also warns his disciples that the Kingdom movement will catch up both good and bad fish. How are these parables connected and what do they teach us about the Kingdom of God? 

Many of the parables of Jesus were powerful tools used to illustrate an aspect of the Kingdom of Heaven. But these tools did more than illustrate. They were also provocative, divisive, and even  offensive, forcing the crowds to take a step forward or a step back. But how is the Kingdom of Heaven similar to wheat in a field, yeast mixed in dough, or a mustard seed planted in the ground? And why would the crowds have been offended by these parables?