This week's message: Our Identity in Christ as Co-Laborers

Scripture: Matthew 5:13-16
Key takeaway: God has wanted us to labor with Him from the beginning, but our desire to be God has gotten in the way of laboring with God. Jesus perfectly labors with God, and ultimately brings the new covenant, putting God’s Spirit inside of us, causing us to walk in His love, and allowing us to become co-laborers with Christ. By putting on the new self with compassionate hearts, our lives will reflect the love of God, and we will become the salt of the earth and the light of the world, pointing everything back to Jesus and God, allowing us to be co-laborers of the harvest with Christ.
To go deeper:
Listen to the Bible Project Podcast explaining our connection to salt and light.
Read the teachings of Paul that highlight how our lives can show the love of Christ in our hearts: Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12-13, Philippians 2, Ephesians 4-5, and Colossians 3-4.
Pray and ask God to help you put on the new self daily.

This week's message: Our Identity in Christ as the Bride of Christ

Scripture: Ephesians 5:22-33
Key takeaway: As the Church, we are the Bride of Christ—chosen by the Father, purchased by the blood of Christ, and awaiting the return of our Bridegroom. Because Christ has perfectly and sacrificially loved His Bride, our response in this present season of waiting is to submit ourselves fully to Him, live in righteousness, and remain ready for His return.
To go deeper:
Spend time studying Ephesians 5:22-33, Matthew 25: 1-13, John 14:1-3, 1st Thessalonians 4:16-18, and Revelation 19:7-8
Listen to THIS sermon from John Piper - Jesus Christ, the Bridegroom, Past and Future

This week's message: Celebration of Baptism

Scripture: Acts 8:26-39 and 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5
Today we celebrated as 4 believers passed through the waters of Baptism, proclaiming their faith in Jesus Christ publicly, with their church family. We also enjoyed hearing from Lauren Lonneman and Jonathan Murphy as they shared scripture with us and led the congregation in prayer.

To go deeper:
What is Baptism? https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/new-city-catechism/what-is-baptism/

Jesus paid the ultimate price to reclaim us from sin and darkness and to restore us to himself. Redemption doesn’t merely make us better, it transforms our very identity and makes us a part of God’s family and His kingdom.
Scripture: Colossians 1:13-14
To go deeper:
The Bible Project has an excellent podcast series on redemption that's worth a listen: The Bible Project | RedemptionCheck out this catechism question and answer from the Gospel Coalition: Since We Are Redeemed by Grace Alone, Through Christ Alone, Must We Still Do Good Works and Obey God’s Word?

We were made for family, but because of our sin, lost that family with God and others. In Jesus, we are restored to the family of God as He calls us His brothers and sisters. This amazing love changes us and the way we interact with one another, causing us to pursue Jesus together in deep relationship.

Scripture: Hebrews 2:10-18

To go deeper:
Reach out to David or the elders about leading or joining a community group.
Check out the Three Circles Gospel presentation tool.

Adoption changes our status. Through Christ, we are not merely forgiven; we are given a new identity as children of God and joint heirs with Christ.Adoption gives us incredible privileges. Our debt has been canceled, we share in Christ’s inheritance, and we have full and confident access to God as our Father.Adoption comes with responsibility. As children who bear our Father’s name, we are called to pray to Him, imitate Him, and trust Him in the way we live. Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-8To Go Deeper:Live from your identity, not for it. How would your daily life change if you truly believed that your standing with God is based on what Christ has done rather than what you accomplishConsider what it means to call God “Father.” Because of our adoption, we can approach God with the confidence and intimacy of a child approaching a loving father. How should that change the way you pray, especially when you have failed or are struggling?Bear the family resemblance. God doesn’t simply give His children His name; He desires them to reflect His character. Where is God currently calling you to look more like your Father—by forgiving, loving, trusting, or obeying Him?

Who Am I? Humans have been trying to answer this question from the beginning of time. In our new sermon series titled “Our Identity in Christ,” we’re going to study who we are in Christ over the next two months. This week we studied that we are beloved. Isaiah 43 says that we are precious, and honored, and that God loves us. By receiving, responding to, and sharing God’s love, we can live life as a beloved child of God.

Scripture: Isaiah 43:1-7

To go deeper:
Study Ephesians 4-6 to see how Paul encourages us to be imitators of God.
Listen to songs that communicate God’s love to you: Run to the Father, Come to the Altar, Good Good Father, and Reckless Love are great options.
Develop an identity statement based on your thoughts today. Hold onto it and write another identity statement at the end of the sermon series. Does anything change? Ask God to lead you in deepening your identity in Christ each day.

The Holy Spirit brings God’s presence into the lives of believers. The Christian life cannot be lived apart from the Spirit.

Scripture: John 14:15-27

To go deeper:
Spend time this week studying John 14:15-27, Acts 1:9, 2:1-13, and Ephesians 3:16-21.Start your day with a simple prayer asking the Holy Spirit to guide you, to teach you, to renew and transform you, to give you bold faith to be a witness to the world around you, and to empower you to walk in step with Him.Study this question and answer from The Gospel Coalition's New City Catechism: How Many Persons Are There in God?

The story of Scripture is the story of how our perfect communion with God was lost and restored. God the Father sent his Son, fully God and fully man so that through Him we might share in the love that they’ve shared before the world or even time existed.

Scripture: Colossians 1:15-20

To go deeper:
The Bible Project has some great resources available! Check out their podcast episode on God's Firstborn Son and their video on The Son of Man.Study this question and answer from The Gospel Coalition's New City Catechism: How Many Persons Are There in God?

This week we kicked off a 3-week series on the Trinity, starting with God the Father. Understanding the triune nature of God is critical to being a Christian. Because God has always been a Father, we can know for certain that God is, in His very nature, a God of love. As He has eternally loved God the Son in fellowship with God the Holy Spirit, He created us to share in His love. Through Jesus, you and I can experience the great love of God the Father!

Scripture: John 17:20-26

To go deeper:
Read the Nicene and Athanasian Creeds. (Note that the word "catholic" in the Athanasian Creed refers to the whole, global church of Jesus Christ, not the Catholic Church.)Read this article from Ligonier Ministries: One in Essence, Three in Person Check out Delighting in the Trinity by Michael Reeves.Read this question and answer from The Gospel Coalition's New City Catechism: How Many Persons Are There in God?