This week for the first time in four chapters the Teacher switches from observations to commands. (e.g., Do this. Don't do this.). The subject he feels so strongly about as to warrant direct instruction is how we speak before God. We considered what his instructions mean for us today.

Work, or "toil" as Ecclesiastes often describes it, is a part of life. The Teacher encourages us to recognize that our toil is like vapor, but he also encourages us to find satisfaction in our work. This week we considered the question: How can we find satisfaction in our work, even if it is "like vapor"?

This week in Ecclesiastes: three observations about the harsh nature of life that have power to lead us to despair...or to God.

This week we began a new sermon series on the Old Testament wisdom book of Ecclesiastes. This book surprises many when they discover it in their Bibles: it sounds despairing and cynical. "Meaningless! Meaningless! Everything is meaningless!" it declares. As depressing as it may sound, Ecclesiastes offers a perspective that God wants us to hear. It "goads us" toward the holy ache.

The Book of Jonah is a subversive, funny, and profound story that challenges us to ask some tough questions about ourselves.

What does it mean to be truly "free"? This week, guest speaker Bob McCoy used the story of Jesus healing a demon-possessed man to show the difference between false freedom and true freedom.

In light of Earth Day 2019, this week we asked: is caring for the environment something the Church should be concerned about? The Bible presents us with a worldview that answers YES. We identified four characteristics of the Biblical worldview and why they remind us of the value of creation care. We also considered how they relate to the controversial subject of global warming.

This Easter we considered how Jesus's resurrection is an incredible victory over three formidable enemies we all face.

Jesus said "if you've seen me, you've seen the Father." In light of these words, this Good Friday we asked the question: What do we learn about God by looking at the crucified Christ? Pastor Ryan offered four reflections.

This week we concluded our series on Abraham with what might be the most famous (and challenging) story from his life. After waiting for 25 years, Isaac - the promised child - had finally arrived. But before Isaac had any descendants, the same God who promised to build a nation through him also called Abraham to sacrifice him as an offering. We wrestled with the challenging questions raised by this story, and sought to identify what God wants us to learn.