This week, Jerell discussed Psalm 133, which is one of the Psalms of Ascent, and the importance of "dwelling in unity"(Verse 1) as a church body. 

During his sermon, Jerell explained three ways we can strive toward this call from Verse 1:

1. Choosing identity over independence

2. Choosing community over commodity

3. Choosing presence over productivity 

He also gave three applications:

1. Tailgate the church gathering

2. Seek out diverse relationships

3. Believing in the mission

"We will live in the city of God in a house built by the hands of Jesus."

Brett continued with our series through the book of Hebrews, discussing Hebrews 13:7-14, how we should walk with purpose not perfection, and then explained each of the verses in this passage.

Verse 7: We should follow those who teach the Word of God and imitate their faith 

   -Who are you following?

   -Who's following you and where are you leading them?

Verse 8: Jesus will not ever change

   1) His words are not going to change

   2) Our salvation is unchangeable 

   3) Our future is promised

Verse 9: There are three things that may lead people away:

   1) Pride of intellect

   2) Discipline

   3) Pride of freedom

Verse 10-14: It's by Jesus' blood we are put in the eternal city and He was crucified outside the gates because everyone is welcome

This week, Sean discussed Matthew 5:38-48, and posed the question, "How do we love unlovable people?" He explained how in this passage, Jesus is addressing retaliation and how laws surrounding the subject were being misinterpreted by Scribes and Pharisees.

Sean then went on to explain five guiding principles on how to love unlovable people:

1. Two wrongs don't make a right

2. Interruptions and inconveniences are your ministry

3. Go and give above and beyond

4. Treat an outsider like an insider and a stranger like a friend

5. Imitate God and not the world 

"These things don’t save you, they are what saved people do."

This week, Brett continued with our series through the book of Hebrews, and discussed Hebrews 13:1-6 and the five mandates in this passage:

1. Let love of the brethren continue (verse 1)

   - "Because we've experienced perfect love, we can love the imperfect."

2. Do not neglect to show hospitality (verse 2)

   -"Biblical hospitality is loving a stranger" (someone who can't reciprocate)

3. Empathy (verse 3)

4. Purity (verse 4)

   -Marriage is one of the first things God ordained

5. Contentment (verse 5-6)

   - "We have to learn how not to worship the creation, but worship the Creator"

This week, Brett continued with our series through the book of Hebrews, discussing Hebrews 12:18-29 and how this passage connects to Exodus 19. In Exodus 19, we see a picture of a holy and righteous God and how He establishes a covenant with Moses. Brett also discussed the differences of Mount Sinai in Exodus, and Mount Zion in Hebrews.

From the first section of this passage in Hebrews, we learned that those that go to Mount Zion are citizens of heaven (we are not born that way), and

 Zion is the city of the living God (verse 22). These citizens will:

1. Worship God with the angels (verse 22)

2. Have people in Heaven awaiting their arrival (verse 23)

3. See the Old Testament saints who couldn't experience the work of Christ, but were made perfect (verse 23)

4. See Jesus, "the mediator of a new covenant" (verse 24)

Brett continued with our series through the book of Hebrews this week, focusing on Hebrews 12. He outlined this section with the themes of:

1. Tough (the race we are called to run is not easy, and we should encourage/strengthen those around us)

2. Team (we are to run the race together as a community)

3. True

"Circumstances in life are often things that God is using to discipline His sons and daughters."

Brett continued with our series through the book of Hebrews, discussing Hebrews 12:4-11 and how it pertains to Christian parenting. He told how, "We are called to be obedient children to God," and that God wants us to have children that are obedient in all things. Brett explained that we discipline children because we love them, and how as children of God, we are sanctified when He disciplines us (v.10)

As a loving and holy Father:

1. God instructs us

2. God punishes us

3. God prevents sin in our life

4. God's discipline matures us

Get over it. You're likely to have one of two responses to this message: it's not that easy, or, well yeah no kidding. The reality is that grumbling is a practice that we've grown all too comfortable with and Scripture has something to say about it. In this sermon Craig examines the biblical case for getting over it and how we as Christians should deal with the frustrations and trials we're experiencing.

"When you walk away from Jesus, you're throwing away His sacrifice and trampling it underfoot."

We continued with our series through the book of Hebrews this week, focusing on Hebrews 10:26-39. Brett explained that this section of Chapter 10, tells of a time where a large number of people who say they are Christians will walk away from Jesus, and how these people are called apostates.

Brett went on to explain three characteristics of apostates:

1. Every apostate is an unbeliever, but not ever unbeliever is an apostate

2. Apostates come from within the church

3. When apostates depart, they don't return

"We have a High Priest that stands before the throne of God and He advocates for us because we are His children and He has shed His blood on our behalf."

Brett continued with our series through the book of Hebrews on Sunday, focusing on Hebrews 10:19-25. He explained how God's sacrificial system of the Old Covenant wasn't intended to solve the problem of sin, it was to highlight the problem of sin, and that our confidence is only in the blood of Jesus. 

Verse 20 of Chapter 10 references the veil that kept people out of the Holy of Holies; a place that the High Priest could only enter once a year. Brett explained that this verse uses "The body of Jesus that was torn for us on the cross," as a metaphor for the veil, and it gives us the confidence to go before God. Verse 21 goes on to say that the High Priest (Jesus) has done the atoning, but continues with the advocating.

For the remainder of the chapter, Brett introduced a four point outline:

1. Draw near (v. 22)

   - A "sincere heart" means true faith

   - We have positional satisfaction and practical sanctification

2. Hold fast (v. 23)

   - Acknowledging that you're a sinner and that Jesus' death on the cross restores us to a right relationship with God

3. Spur on (v. 24)

   - We are called to consider how to spur on others to love

4. Show up (v. 25)

   - Don't make it a habit to not assemble together

   - "We are not created to be independent people"