The Gathering

Humans have a bizarre propensity for objectives--we absolutely love them. We love achieving, we love succeeding, and we love how it makes us feel. But what happens when we fail? Or--what happens when the most important things we encounter turn out not to be objectives at all? 

This Sunday at Storyline, Wesley Rieth spoke on what an objective is, what it isn't, and how Jesus saw objectives.  Mike Koch and the band performed songs by Kacey Musgraves, Swtichfoot, and David Ramirez. 

At Storyline we believe in the transformative power of story and the blessing that comes from sharing them.  This Sunday we had the privilege of hearing stories from some of our Storyline friends.  

We spend a lot of time and effort, much of it below the surface of our awareness, trying to figure out who we really are.  Because our identity not only defines us, it guides us.

Maybe this is why the story of the life of faith in the bible is so surprising.  We assume the bible is all about telling us what to do when really it is much more interested in suggesting to us - who we are!  

This Sunday at Storyline's Gathering Mike Gathright considered the revolutionary and radical vision that Jesus has of our identity.  
 

Figuring out who we are, personally and communally, is not something we think about often.  But life has a way of begging this question.  What now? What next? Why?  The answers to basic questions like these are grounded in our identity.  Who we are.

This month at Storyline's Gathering we've been considering the topic of identity; Sunday Mike Gathright continued this discussion by revisiting Jesus's view of the identity of His community.

Some things must be discovered and experienced - they can't just be learned or explained.  Identity, who we really are, is one of those things. Jesus was very interested in people knowing His identity - and their own - but He seemed to want more for us than just the right answer.  Why?  

Last Sunday Mike Gathright explored Storyline's identity...this Sunday Mike Wyble focused in on our personal identity...how can we discover who we really are?  And how does that discovery change life for us?

In large part the identity of an object and even a person is wrapped up in its design - what it is for.   Jesus seemed to think people and communities were designed on purpose - and FOR a purpose - that have a dramatic impact on our identity, how we see ourselves and one another. 

This Sunday at the Gathering Mike Gathright looked at Storyline's design, and what we are for.  If you have struggled to explain what Storyline is to some of the people in your life (and we all have!) - this Sunday helps to describe it.

Some subjects are just taboo.  Religion used to be the most controversial, now it is politics.  But a close third is money.  We don't talk about it in polite company and frankly, we rarely talk about it even with those we are closest to...why?  

Jesus spoke about money a lot because he knew it is a tremendously powerful force in our life.  This Sunday at Storyline's Gathering Mike Gathright explored the unique perspective Jesus has on our money and our hearts.  

Has anyone ever given you something before you asked for it...maybe even before you knew you needed it, or wanted it?  Jesus said God often works like that. 
What might life look like if we believed it?

This Sunday at Storyline's Gathering Mike Gathright and John Williams looked at the beauty and transformational power of God's generosity toward us.

Sometimes its eavesdropping, sometimes it is innocent, but we have all been in a situation where we have over heard something. It can be uncomfortable, embarrassing even. 

At least one time, Jesus taught in a way that many people would over hear him.  It wasn't to make anyone uncomfortable or embarrassed, he did it to change their lives.  And it did!

This Sunday morning at Storyline's Gathering Mike Gathright looked at the genius and grace of Jesus as he taught something that could only change you...if you OVER heard it. 

It is graduation season...a time to celebrate what our young people have learned. But that begs the question - what have we been teaching them?

This Sunday at Storyline's Gathering Mike Gathright considered what God is trying to teach us all.