John 17 is the longest recorded prayer of Jesus in the Gospels. Here, He prays for Himself as He faces the cross, for His disciples, and the unity of future believers (us!). It is often called the “High Priestly Prayer” because as Christ was preparing to face the cross and to bear the sins of the world, He paused to intercede on our behalf – just as the High Priests interceded for Israel in the Old Testament.

Jesus tells us what His inner thoughts were as He prayed this prayer. He was going to the Father soon, and wanted His disciples to have “the full measure of joy within them” (17:13). Jesus’ words here concerning unity are some of the most compelling in Scripture. As we consider how Jesus prays for us, we reflect on the thought that He had us on His mind, even as He faced the cross. Join us this Sunday as we follow after Him!

-Pastor Nate Roschen

In this week’s study of the book of John, Jesus gives further instruction concerning two important topics. First, He expands upon what He has said earlier in this gospel about the role of the Holy Spirit. Jesus says in verse 7, “Very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away.” Jesus expressed that it was good news that He was departing and sending His Spirit to us. We will explore all of these wonderful benefits together.

After this, Jesus shares with us about how He will turn the disciple’s grief into joy. He uses the metaphor of a woman giving birth to explain to the disciples, and to us, what is about to happen. He again does not deny the reality of the pain to come – but reminds them of a sure thing – that it will result in joy and new life. Join us this Sunday as we hear the words of Jesus together.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33

-Pastor Nate Roschen

In John 15, Jesus offers His seventh and final “I Am” (ego eimi ) statement: I am the Vine. He is the Bread of Life, the Light of the World, the Gate, the Good Shepherd, the Resurrection and the Life, the Way the Truth and the Life, and now – The Vine.

There is a lot of beauty and practical thoughts for living wrapped up into this simple metaphor. Jesus makes it clear that apart from Him – we can do nothing. His desire for His people is that we have life, and do good in the world. This has always been God’s desire for His people since Genesis 12. But this is a unique moment in the Bible where Jesus explains the theology behind the instruction, with an analogy that all can understand. Join us this Sunday as we listen to the words of Jesus.

-Pastor Nate Roschen

After a tumultuous and challenging chapter 13, Jesus comforts His disciples in a variety of ways in chapter 14 as He prepares them, and Himself, for His crucifixion. Jesus assures us that He will go to prepare a place for us, promises the Holy Spirit to help and guide His followers, and affirms that He is the way to the Father. This is critical to catch – Jesus does not show us the way to the Father, but tells us that He is the way to the Father.

I believe that John’s deepest desire is for us to see that Jesus is the revealer of God and in this revelation, to find life. In our worry about the world, the future – about tomorrow – Jesus comforts us. By what He has to offer, we can know a peace – a peace unlike anything the world has to offer. Join us this Sunday as we find comfort in the Lord.

-Pastor Nate Roschen

This Sunday we are going to be exploring 1 Samuel 7, and the invitation God gives us to join His plan of salvation and redemption in the world. Samuel’s call for the Israelites to return to the Lord gives us a clear picture of repentance and reminds us of God’s faithfulness in all circumstances - no matter how near or far we may feel from His presence in our current season. Consider how victory and defeat are defined within God’s economy, and how that impacts every facet of our life.

--Micah

From chapter 12 to chapter 13 of John’s Gospel, we move into the second half of this book. The first 12 chapters of John all concern Jesus’ public ministry, where He sought out a wide range of men and women who would believe. As we move into chapter 13, we shift our attention to Jesus’ private ministry. For the next five chapters, Jesus is alone with His disciples, before Jesus’ final glorification in the final few chapters.

This week, we look at a quintessential story of Jesus. Jesus weaves together the truth of His upcoming sacrificial death and a model of true servanthood. He does this by lowering Himself to wash the feet of His disciples. There are so many implications here to explore – from Jesus’ mission and purpose, to the way He desires for His followers to live, to what exactly He is trying to teach us about receiving from Him. Join us as we explore this story together!

-Pastor Nate Roschen

A candid discussion of the space between life-affirming care and pro-choice culture, and how Alternatives responds by engaging people where decisions are actually made, not where slogans live.

James Everett grew up in Colorado Springs and came to faith in Christ at age 19 while stationed at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam. He served as a Sergeant at Colorado Department of Correction. He also has spent fourteen years in local government in leadership roles centered on accountability and organizational stability. He now focuses on mentoring teen and adult men to know Christ, understand themselves, and be prepared to protect and cultivate healthy relationships with their pregnant partners.

-James Everett

In this next chapter of John’s gospel, we come across what is perhaps the most extravagant love ever expressed toward Jesus in His time on earth. Mary – a friend of Jesus – pours an expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet and wipes His feet with her hair. While this story is shockingly similar to a story recorded in Luke 7, scholars agree these are separate incidents.

Here we are confronted by what it means to love Jesus. What devotion to Him can look like – how it is to be expressed. An interesting and challenging question arises – this perfume was very costly, worth a year’s wages, it could have been sold and the proceeds given to the poor. But instead, it is spilled on the feet of Jesus. Mopped up with a woman’s hair. How do we love Jesus in this world? How do we honor Him with our choices and with our actions? Join us as we delve into this fascinating chapter together!

- Pastor Nate Roschen

In John 11, we meet Jesus addressing a very human concern – death. His friend Lazarus has died, and facing an opportunity to confront our most raw vulnerability, our own personal fate – Jesus shows His power over even death.

In Luke 16, Jesus told the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, the crescendo of that parable being when the rich man shares his deepest desire for his brothers to be saved from the terrible fate of separation from God, Abraham responds, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’

This would turn out to be remarkably accurate. There were many mourners in Bethany that day, friends of Lazarus, who knew of his passing and participated in his burial. But when Lazarus stepped out of the tomb they refused to believe. Join us this Sunday as we explore this familiar story – and see a Jesus who meets us in our need, and addresses our deepest concerns.

-Pastor Nate Roschen

In John 10 we find Jesus going into detail to describe for us, through a metaphor people of His day would have felt and understood, the way He thinks of our relationship. He described Himself as a good shepherd, one who cares well for His sheep. And what we find here, has the power to change us, and to change the way we see Jesus.

We find in the metaphor of John 10, a nearly equal number of things that Jesus is and is not. He affirms that there are things a false shepherd, or a hired hand would do – that He would never do. But we also find a number of examples of selfless ways our shepherd will watch over us, care for us, protect us – that are stunning. No other god behaves this way. No other god even attempts to paint a picture like this. Come and join us, as we learn about the best shepherd together.

-Pastor Nate Roschen