John 13:34-35

Exploring the teachings of Jesus on relationships that transcend cultural expectations of servanthood, forgiveness, and peacemaking.

Luke 2:13-16

Christmas is a season of anticipation, but in our excitement, we often move too fast to try and get there. We move at a fast pace trying to get all the shopping done, attend all the parties, watch as many Christmas movies as possible, and prepare the house for all the family coming over. In our anticipation we can easily miss the christmas message of the heavenly hosts - “Peace on earth to those on whom his favor rests.” Even in our anticipation, Christmas is a season where we should be slowing down to experience and live into the peace of God.

Luke 2:8-12

On a night just like any other, the shepherds found themselves confronted with a message of good news in the middle of the ordinary; the middle of the mundane. They would be presented with the good news of the messiah’s arrival; news that should elicit a heart of joy and celebration! They were told he would be wrapped in cloth waiting for them in the mundane of a manger in a stable. Jesus is waiting to bring joy and be celebrated this holiday season, even in the mundane. Are we taking time to slow down and celebrate him in the midst of it? Are we slowing down enough this holiday season to hear the message that God has for us in the mundane?

Luke 2:1-7

A census is declared; Joseph has to make the trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem. By the way, he is engaged. By the way, his fiancé is pregnant. By the way, there is no room for them in the guest room. Jesus’ birth forced Joseph to stop. How can we find a time to stop this Advent season?

1 Corinthians 15:1-6

If God is all powerful and good, then why do bad things happen? This is the classic question of the problem of evil. There are two ways to approach this question: from the head and from the heart. From the head the answer is God allows evil to either prevent a greater evil or bring about a greater good. However, that will not make anyone feel better. The heart issue is that when we suffer, we need God to comfort us. The challenge is to trust in the God who allowed us to suffer.

Luke 15:17-24

The prodigal son realizes that home had everything he was looking for and made the decision to go back. But before he even made it home, his father saw him and ran to him. The son repents and the father responds by celebrating with a feast because his son went from being dead to alive. Similarly when someone professes Jesus as their Lord and Savior, there is reason to celebrate because they have gone from dead to alive.

Revelation 5:11-14

While we strive to be contemporary in our music, worship is not about the songs. It is not about whether I like a song. Worship is not about a particular emotional experience. Worship is about acknowledging God’s worth. We do that corporately on Sunday mornings when we sing, listen, give, and pray. We are called to live our whole lives as one act of worship.

Exodus 9:13-16

God was going to use Pharaoh to proclaim His name in all the earth. That was God’s plan, and nothing was going to stop it. Pharaoh however got to decide how he would be a part of God’s plan. He could humble himself before the Lord and declare to the world that “The Lord is God”. Or he could defy the Lord God in which God’s acts of judgment would become Pharaoh’s testimony. God’s purposes cannot be stopped - we just get to decide what role we play in God’s story.

Jeremiah 31:31-34

The prophet Jeremiah speaks of a new covenant that was to come; one where the law will be written on hearts and minds rather than stone. This new covenant would ultimately be fulfilled through Christ.

Acts 15:1-6

When it comes to leading the community of faith, God does not entrust it to one individual. Rather, God raises up a community of leaders in the form of pastors, elders, and deacons. It is not about a charismatic leader, but collective wisdom.