Our Duty;

If our duty is only to self, we will ignore sin in others and only care about sin when WE are sinned against. If our duty is to God, we will care about sin in others, and will be quick to forgive when WE are sinned against. Luke continues his theme on the right treatment of others, moving from money to leadership. Are we leading people towards Christ or away from him? That's really the question

Check Your Heart (Before You Check Your Wallet);

The Pharisees loved to give money - as long as someone was watching them. In all reality, they loved money, not God. Jesus calls them out and illustrates that there are those who are rich in this world, but poor towards God. And there are also those who are poor in this world, but rich towards God.

This morning we study Luke 16, a chapter (mostly) about money. Here's the point: We must use the world's goods, not abuse the world's goods. There is a way we can use our money and possessions today which prepares us for heaven. And there is a way we can use our money and possessions today which makes us against heaven. Possessions will always do one or the other. Join us as we learn what it means to be a good steward and not covet.

A Celebration in Heaven; What does heave get excited about? This morning we discover that one thing which gets heaven excited it the repentance of a sinner. Jesus highlights true joy in the restoration of the one who was lost and the revival of the one who was dead. But he doesn't stop there. The question for us is this: Do you celebrate what heaven gets excited about?

The Cost of Discipleship; As many people suround Jesus and are interested in his life, many cannot afford the cost of discipleship. Being a Christian is more than simply making a decision for Jesus or a commitment to church services. Being a Christian is to love everything else less than we love Jesus. It is to forsake all, and follow him.

Pride. An unruly destroyer of mankind. Join us this week as Jesus confronts pride head-on. It’s seen in everything from what we believe we deserve to who we invite to our dinner table. What’s amazing is this – even thought we’re a proud people, Jesus died for us. He found us as the rejects. In his life and death, we are humbled and as we’re humbled, he lifts us up.

This morning we welcome Won Kwak. Won is a pastor at Maranatha Grace Church just outside of New York. Maranatha Grace Church is a partner with ONE HOPE. We’re thankful for Won and his ministry, and welcome him to The Garden Church.

Birthmarks of a Born Again Christian

Some of you have a birthmark. Physical birthmarks are a reminder of what we came into the world with. If you’re a Christian, you also have spiritual birthmarks. Spiritual birthmarks are a reminder of what we were reborn with. They can be and should be seen. In this dark world God is light. When we walk with God we walk in the light and because we are in the light those around us see our identifying birthmarks of a born again believer in Christ Jesus.

We tend to put things off, don't we? Usually it's the stuff that takes a lot of focus that gets put off. Unfortunately, the stuff that takes focus is often the most important.

This morning we hear a warning from the Gospel of Luke: Don't put off Jesus! He's too important. It's too urgent. Jesus is the door to the Kingdom. Today is the day you must walk through that door. Enter while there's still time.