“Jesus Christ lived in the midst of His enemies. At the end allHis disciples deserted Him. On the Cross, He was utterly alone, surrounded by evildoers and mockers. For this cause He had come, to bring peace to the enemies of God. So the Christian, too, belongs not in the seclusion of a cloistered life but in the thick of foes.”– Dietrich Bonhoefer[key verse: John 19:30]Psalm 31:8Phil. 2:1-8Luke 23:44–49

It is said that a person can survive 3 full weeks without food but only 3 days without water. On the cross, Jesus cried out from the most desparate need, "I Thirst." That cry is our spiritual cry as we seek the Lord in all things. [John 19:28]Psalm 42:1-8Rev. 7:13-17John 19:28–29

It times of crisis, when there is no one else to turn to, who do you seek? Today we hear Jesus cry out to the only one who promised never to leave him -- his Father in heaven. How does Jesus' words echo the cry of your heart in crisis today? [key verse: Mark 15:34]Is. 53:1-52 Cor. 5:18-21Matthew 27:45–56

Broken relationships break God’s heart. That’s why Jesus wanted to make sure his own mom was taken care of. When it comes down to it, all we have is each other. Protecting our relationships emulates the heart of God. [key verse: John 19:26–27]1 Samuel 1:10-18Eph. 5:21-33John 19:25-27

What image pops into your head when you hear the word ‘Paradise’? For some, a warm beach is the imagery. For others, a small cabin by the lake. What if the paradise that Jesus offers the thief on the cross is much more that just a place called heaven. What if ‘with me’ is the ultimate paradise for us all? [key verse: Luke 23:43]Gen. 3:6-13, 23,24Phil. 1:27-30Luke 23:35–43

Ash Wednesday Message

Just like most of Jesus’ teachings, the idea of serving others first against the grain of the world’s thinking. To be first we must put ourselves last. The one who would be first must be the servant of all and this is certainly not the way of the world. Isn’t it like God that His ways are in direct conflict with the ways most people think even in the church? Deut. 10:12-221 Cor. 3:5-11Mark 9:30-37

The theme of ‘fellowship’ is key in the New Testament's description of the early church. Some of the hallmarks of the close relationships of the early church include people praying for each other, studying God's word together, serving each other in the church and helping each other as the case arises. Our church provides so many opportunities to grow together and 'go deep' in relationship and faith. Jeremiah 17:5-8Ephesians 3:14-21Mark 1:21-28

“You look just like your dad!” Often, you can tell who is related to whom simply by the looks. As we seek to reset our understanding of the church, we start by understanding that knowing God is simple as we look to his Son, Jesus. Psalm 68:32-35Acts 2:42-47John 14:9-14

Jesus always had a mind for those who didn’t know God on a personal level. In our desire to reach others, how can we live a life that is rich in mercy, grace and love to people who need to know Jesus?Ex. 34:1-7Colossians 4:2-6 or Romans 10:9-15Matthew 9:9-13