U-turns Permitted

Today we are looking at chapters 6-11, taking an overall view, then zooming in on chapter 7. We did look at a video which summarizes these chapters in visual form. You can find that video here.

Today we look at Revelation 5: we see the slain Lamb as the One who will rescue the world, not the "right-handed" power of the Empire.

Today's sermon is by Rick Jonsen on Leviticus 25:8-28, on the Year of Jubilee.

Today we come to Revelation 4, that central vision of worship before God's throne. We wove a part of the sermon into the beginning of the service, which has been added to the front of the sermon. Also, the song by Bob Dylan, "Gotta Serve Somebody", which formed the prelude for the sermon, is here also. Feel free to skip the song if you want, but we'd suggest you listen to it and let the choice it presents so clearly sink in.

Today we look at Revelation 12. Last week we saw the two beasts of empire and propaganda. Now we will see what Revelation tells us about the story behind the story - the cosmic struggle behind the earthly political power struggles. Hopefully we will be conforted and emboldened.

We look today at Revelation 13: the two beasts that form the central image of Revelation. When we understand what these are, we can understand the rest of the book.

Today we start a new series for the fall of 2018 on the book of Revelation. Not as a map about when and how the world will end.Rather, we will read it as a “prophetic critique of imperial idolatry (civil religion) and injustice (military, economic, political and religious oppression), and specifically Rome’s imperial idolatry and injustice.” We will explore how in our time we should wrestle with “matters of allegiance, idolatry, violence, witness and worship.”

Today we close off our summer series on 1 Samuel. We'll be reading 2 Samuel 1, which describes the tragic death of Saul and Jonathan and David's brokenhearted mourning for them and Israel. The Bible does not avoid disaster. It confronts us with the pain life can bring, either by circumstance or our own doing. But there is always a glimpse of hope, if we will choose to see it. To watch the video that was used in the sermon, click here.

Today we look at 1 Samuel 25, the story of the fool Nabal, his beautiful, intelligent wife Abigail, and David, who has anger management issues. In Abigail we will see more than a skilled conflict negotiator.

Today we look at the story of the friendship between David and Saul's son, the crown prince, Jonathan. Jonathan took off his royal robe and laid down his weapons to befriend and help David. This is what Jesus did for us, and this gives us the power to befirend each other in real ways.