God raised Jesus from the dead to provide His people with an everlasting relationship with them. God also desires for His people to have a similar relationship with each other. That is our high calling. Fortunately, through the presence of the Holy Spirit, God gives us tools to help live out that calling in relationship with one another.  As Jesus was preparing His followers for what was next, He gave them a new commandment - a new way to look at love - that raised the bar forever. 

Many have stated that this is a horrible time for Easter. We can't get to the store to get our Easter outfits. We can't gather on the day before for our annual Easter Egg Hunt. There won't be any Easter photo booths at the church and we won't get to be together for Easter worship. The scriptures remind us that this Easter is more similar to the first Easter than any other Easters of our lifetime. I believe Easter comes at a perfect time. We have an incredible opportunity to focus on the Resurrecting Power of our God. We all need resurrection. We all need new life breathed into us. 

This Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week. I realize that it may be hard to comprehend given our current situation, but this week is a week of celebration. It begins on Sunday as we remember the entrance Jesus made into the holy city of Jerusalem. Have you ever made an entrance that you had to plan for? One that you knew people were going to remember? How'd it go? Did it turn out to be fantastic or a flop? This Sunday, we look at the lasting effect Jesus' entrance had on the people

The book of Job explores the age old question of why bad things happen. The answers, if we are fortunate enough to even find, are rarely simple. Nonetheless, as followers of Jesus, who also endured bad things happening, we must not evade the difficult questions, but look to find meaning in and through our times of trial and suffering. After all of the questions, all of the complaining, all of the arguing, all of the pointing fingers, and all of the judging, it turns out that all Job really wanted was one things. This Sunday we learn what that one thing was and how Job received it.

The book of Job explores the age old question of why bad things happen. The answers, if we are fortunate enough to even find, are rarely simple. Nonetheless, as followers of Jesus, who also endured bad things happening, we must not evade the difficult questions, but look to find meaning in and through our times of trial and suffering. In the first 37 chapters of Job, we hear everyone’s expert opinion on suffering: Job, Job’s wife, Job’s friends, Job’s hard friends. In Chapter 38, we finally hear what God has to say has He weighs in on the issue. 

The book of Job explores the age old question of why bad things happen. The answers, if we are fortunate enough to even find, are rarely simple. Nonetheless, as followers of Jesus, who also endured bad things happening, we must not evade the difficult questions, but look to find meaning in and through our times of trial and suffering. Can pain be a good thing? We know the arguments, but pain is pain by any name, and those who experience it are not likely to be encouraged by platitudes. We look this week at the role faith plays in persevering through pain.

The book of Job explores the age old question of why bad things happen. The answers, if we are fortunate enough to even find, are rarely simple. Nonetheless, as followers of Jesus, who also endured bad things happening, we must not evade the difficult questions, but look to find meaning in and through our times of trial and suffering. We know the expression, “A good friend is hard to find.” But, is the opposite true? Is a hard friend good to find? In Job’s case, the answer may surprise you. 

The book of Job explores the age old question of why bad things happen. The answers, if we are fortunate enough to even find, are rarely simple. Nonetheless, as followers of Jesus, who also endured bad things happening, we must not evade the difficult questions, but look to find meaning in and through our times of trial and suffering.

This week, as we begin our series, we look at the beginning of suffering - the question of Good versus evil. Why does suffering even exist?

Many of us feel a sense of discontent. It’s natural for us to feel like there should be something more for our lives. Jesus said that he came so that we could have an abundant life. During this study of Ephesians, we will learn how to discover our purpose. 

 The goal of these last several weeks has been to prepare us to discern our unique position of personal calling. Now, we must do something difficult. Go. Go into God's great world and trust where the Spirit is sending us. 

Many of us feel a sense of discontent. It’s natural for us to feel like there should be something more for our lives. Jesus said that he came so that we could have an abundant life. During this study of Ephesians, we will learn how discovering our purpose.