Vintage Faith Community Sermons

Body: Deacons

Sun, 20 May 2012 21:14:18 GMT

As the Body of Christ got busy doing the work of making disciples, it became readily apparent that they needed not only leaders to shepherd, preach, and lead, but also leaders who could serve to make sure the Body could continue to do the work. In Acts 6, we see the Apostles appoint these key leaders, the prototype of what the early church would eventually call "deacons." The word literally means servants, and in order for the church of Jesus to fulfill her calling of making disciples there will always be a need for these lead servants. So the 2 official leadership positions in the church are elders (servant leaders, who serve the church be leading) and deacons (lead servants, who lead the church by serving). As elders and deacons fulfill the biblical requirements of character and function faithfully in their roles, the whole body is equipped and sent to do the work of ministry, and the number of disciples will "multiply greatly."

Body: Elders

Sun, 13 May 2012 18:33:42 GMT

This week we tackle the topic of Elders. Throughout the Bible, the church is a body of believers referred to as the flock. Within this illustration there are men appointed to shepherding the flock. Listen in as we explore the role, qualifications, and motivation of elders. As we study this topic our need for a true and perfect leader emerges. All men, including elders, are broken and sinful- we desperately need a chief shepherd. Jesus is this shepherd. He is the source of all life, meaning, and purpose. Ultimately all leadership and direction within the church should be led and guided by the true shepherd.

Prodigal Father

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 16:53:34 GMT

This is a sermon recently shared with Emmaus (a church plant in the Perry District). In this sermon, Steve, explores the story of the Prodigal Sons. Listen is to hear Jesus's words.

Body: Hospitality

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 16:06:35 GMT

This week we continue our series on growth and maturity. So far our study has taken us to numerous topics, such as: men, women, marriage, singleness, dating, and work. In each instance, we have been looking at the gospel and applying it to our life. This week is no different; we take the topic of hospitality and apply the good news of Jesus. Listen in as Scott Cooley explores the implications of the gospel in regards to our home(s).

Body: Stewardship & Generosity

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 18:57:12 GMT

What if every single human on planet earth were completely generous with their finances? What the world would look like if everyone liberally gave away their money to actively meet the needs of others? Picture this generosity being without reserve and without hesitation: a completely selfless giving to joyfully supporting others. Wouldn’t this be beautiful? However, this will never happen. Why not? Because we need our money. Money offers us security, in the form of guarding our future. Or maybe money gives you a sense of significance because it gives you power to exercise over others. Money is also a route to comfort and ease; this could come in the form of buying a personal yacht or just a six pack after work. We also use money to earn the approval of others. We tell our selves we will be accepted if we buy certain clothes, live in certain zip codes, or drive a certain car. When we combine all of this, it is easy to see that we use money to buy a personal picture of heaven. We cannot pry our hands off our money and give to others because we are too consumed with serving self. However, there is a way out of this horrible dilemma. Listen in as we work our way through 2 Corinthians 9:6-15.

Body: Work

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 19:06:53 GMT

How does the bible begin? In Genesis (the first book of the bible), the introductory phrase is, “In the beginning God created.” This is the first work. From this we get our idea of work. In this sermon we take a look at a few things. First, what is work? Then we go into two deviations from the true nature of work. Finally we take a look at Christ and see how the gospel changes the way we work.

Easter 2012

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 16:09:08 GMT

Christianity has some radical claims about Jesus. For one, Christianity claims that Jesus is God; if this is true then God suffered and died at the hands of his creation! Just stop and think about that for a minute. The all-powerful creator of the universe was murdered by his creation! The claims of Christianity are shocking. As the followers of Christ witnessed this event they were left perplexed. Wouldn’t you be? Then something even more astounding happened. God didn’t stay dead. Instead he triumphantly arose from death. This resurrection is why we (Vintage Community) and over 2 billion other Christians around the globe celebrate Easter. Christ death was of immense good to us. Listen in to hear why God suffered. Listen in to celebrate and rejoice with us! Listen in to hear why Christ death was of immense good to all.

Body: Sex, Singleness, and Pursuit

Sun, 01 Apr 2012 16:37:32 GMT

What does the gospel of Jesus Christ have to do with sex, singleness, & pursuit? At first glance these topics seem completely unrelated. However, in the book of Corinthians we see Paul fuse these two topics. If we were to sum up Paul’s teaching on the gospel it could be said like this, “You aren’t who you were; in Christ, you have been changed.” Because we have been transformed by Christ there are ramifications that trickle down into every aspect of our life. For instance, this changes the way we think about and use sex. This changes the way we think about and use marriage. And this also gives us a new way to view singleness (as a gift). Listen in to the sermon as we study Paul’s writings on sex, singleness, and pursuit.

Body: Mature Parenting

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 21:05:07 GMT

There is a lot of talk about how to parent children. For instance, many are advocates of homeschooling while others endorse private school. Some claim the key to raising good children is obedience via stern spankings; while others never spank because they believe it is detrimental to their child’s development. How do we parent our children? This is a great question which demands an answer. This week we specifically bring the gospel to bear on our parenting. During this sermon we study through two texts- Ephesians 6 and Hebrews 12. In Hebrews we see God as a father who disciplines his children. This is not a harsh vindictive correction, but instead instruction for our own good. In order for children to flourish sometimes parents have to restrict their will. The other passage we studied is Ephesians 6. When we take a look at parenting from a gospel perspective, our job as parents is to overwhelm our children with grace. Applying the gospel to the heart of our children is our primary objective. And the only way this can happen is if we are first being transformed by grace ourselves. As parents we need to be continually repenting of our self-centerdness and sin. Out of our transformation will come beautiful parenting as the whole family see their need for a savior.

Body: Marriage

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 16:40:47 GMT

As we hit our half way mark in our series, Body: Growing into Christ, we come to the topic of marriage. The purpose of this series has been to explore how we grow and mature in Christ. We now take a look at how we grow and mature within the context of marriage. Marriage is a covenant; which means a whole-life devotion to another, regardless of their performance. The opposite of covenant is a contract: I will do my part if you uphold your end of the bargain. Living a covenant marriage sounds cute and warm but after a short honey moon phase you realize that it is HARD. Marriage is more akin to a fiery furnace than a stroll through the park. Marriage will test you, bring you to the end of your own resources, and reveal that you are more self-saturated (or sinful) than you dare admit. Biblically speaking marriage is not designed for personal fulfillment or happiness; instead, marriage is a sanctification process, where we begin to be more like Jesus. Only when we grab a hold of Jesus and his covenant love can we begin to sacrificially love another. We find the strength to keep sacrificing, serving, and giving up everything only when we see that there was another who has already done this for us.

Body: Mature Women

Sun, 11 Mar 2012 17:07:04 GMT

In the beginning, God made humanity in his image as male and female. While both sexes were of equal worth and value as image-bearers, God made them distinct in roles according to his perfect design and plan. Freedom for us as men and women comes as we explore God's original intention for us and together in repentance and faith begin to conform to his beautiful pattern. In this sermon we explore God's intention and design for women. This is a hotly debated topic. In the Bible we see that it is a woman’s role to be a helper. But we naturally reduce this term. We interpret the term helper as belittling. Think of a situation akin to a small child following his/her father to work to be a little “helper.” However when we wrongly define this term we minimalize the importance of women and don’t properly understand God’s design. Instead, we see in the Psalms that God shares this same title. This is not a denigration but instead a source of empowerment for women. Men NEED women. Women are valuable, vital, and strong. Listen in as we explore the life of a gospel shaped woman.

Body: Mature Men

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 21:14:57 GMT

In the beginning, God made humanity in his image as male and female. While both sexes were of equal worth and value as image-bearers, God made them distinct in roles according to his perfect design and plan. Freedom for us as men and women comes as we explore God's original intention for us and together in repentance and faith begin to conform to his beautiful pattern. In this sermon we explore God's intention and design for men, showing that mature manhood is a posture of benevolent responsibility. We also see how men sinfully rebel from this perfect design, becoming either passive abdicators or gross abusers. Jesus displayed perfect benevolent responsibility when he died for our sins, even though they were not his fault. Through repentance and faith in Him, we can once again become the kind of men God created us to be.

Body: New Way to be Human

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 17:52:47 GMT

There is a myth about the Bible that it is a "book of rules." A book of rules for Christians to obey. However, this is not true. The Bible is first and foremost a STORY. A story primarily about God and not Christians. A story of how God intended the world to be and how it was lost. The central message of the bible could be boiled down to the simple phrase "Humanity messed up everything, but God is restoring what was lost, by Jesus. Listen in to hear a wide sweep of this biblical narrative. We trace the entire plot line of the bible from creation to fall, then redemption all the way to restoration.

MC Training (Spring 2012)

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 22:24:27 GMT

Missional Community training.

How to coach (Spring 2012)

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 22:40:43 GMT

How to effectively coach others.

Body: How we grow

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 22:47:29 GMT

This week we continue our series on the Body and what it means to be the church. At this point in our series we come to the question; “How do we grow?” In regards to this question there are literally an unimaginable number of answers, thoughts, and opinions- all jockeying for position. For instance, Barnes & Noble Bookstore has an entire aisle on self-help. If we were to do a quick Google search we would find millions of different methods to expand and grow as a person. Bloggers, talk show hosts, and journalists all have ideas on how to grown. It seems that everyone wants to chime in with different techniques on how to improve yourself. In opposition to all of these voices, Jesus has some thoughts. In the book of John Jesus announces a completely different method of growth. His method is not based on our own planning, performance, or effort. Instead, He says something rather peculiar. Jesus says, "all you must do is abide in me." Jesus wants us to be connected to Him and He uses an image of a vine to illustrate this point. If we remain connected to Jesus we will have life. Listen in as our friend from Soma Communities in Tacoma, Sam Ticas, explains this text.

Body: We are the Message

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 18:07:36 GMT

Jesus never wrote a book, blog, or curriculum. Yet, his good news has literally traveled to every continent on the globe. People are still studying his life and teaching nearly 2,000 years later! Billions of Christians still attest to the life changing power of Jesus! How does this happen? How can an obscure movement on the fringe of the Roman Empire redirect the entire course of human history? Well, in this passage we see that the message and life of Jesus is communicated from one person to another. Jesus message goes viral. People hear this news and they are captured. In turn, they cannot help but joyfully proclaim Jesus in their lives. Humans are the carriers of this message. In Colossians Paul calls this message of Jesus a message of HOPE. Listen in to hear how this hope changes three things in our life. We look at how this hope changes our motivations, our relationships, and where we live. This is also a message that will confront and challenge. What does your life proclaim? What do your neighbors think you value?

Body: God's Glory in our City

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 18:04:38 GMT

In this introductory sermon the ground work is laid for our new series. Habakkuk, a prophet in the Bible, says it like this, " all the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord." In the end everyone will witness God's glory. But how does this happen? Will God reveal himself from the heaven with a miraculous booming voice? No, the Bible explains that the Glory of God will be revealed through the church (God's people on Gods mission). But how does this happen? How does God reveal himself through mere humans. Well listen in to see. If you are curious about terms like- Gospel, Grace, and/or Salvation, then this would be a good starting point because this sermon explains the central tenants of Christianity in detail.

Pray like Jesus: Deliver us from evil

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 20:06:06 GMT

We have spent an an entire month looking at the Lord's prayer. During this time we have wrestled with many different questions in regards to prayer such as "what to pray?" and "how to pray?" Jesus first invites us to approach God as if he is a loving father. He rebukes the religious elite who use prayer a practice to accrue spiritual authority from others. He also tell us not heap up empty phrases and vain repetitions in an attempt to manipulate God into rewarding us. Our life ambitions have been challenged and confronted during this prayer. Jesus implies that we should surrender our kingdom and replace it with the Kingdom of God. We have also seen how pracitcal needs and spiritual needs should be asked for during prayer. It is clear that this series will completely rewire the way you pray. Now this week we conclude the series. As we finish our prayer how should we conclude it? Jesus says to close it by asking for guidance from temptation. This is a plea for deliverance. Listen in as we finish looking at Jesus advice on how to pray.

Pray like Jesus: Forgiven Debts and Daily Bread

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 18:05:27 GMT

We are in the midst of the Lord ’s Prayer. We have already taken a look at God as Father and how this changes our prayer life- if we are blessed, then we can thank the good Father and if something is withheld, then we can trust that the Father knows what is best for his children. After realized that we address a good Father in prayer there is an invitation. We are invited out of selfishness & our own kingdom and becoming aligned with the kingdom of God. Now, this week we come to the phrase, “Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” This phrase is packed full of content. God will provide our basic caloric intake, but this is just the beginning- He is looking to do so much more! Listen in and hear Pastor Scott explain the text.

Pray like Jesus: Your Kingdom Come

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 20:19:46 GMT

As we move into the second week of this series, Praying like Jesus, our hearts are stirred with a deep yearning. The yearning is the kingdom of God. We are told in the scriptures that as the kingdom of God comes all things will be restored. The kingdom of God will bring unity and harmony. There will no longer be racism, exploitation, or class warfare. We will no longer be plagued with pain, sin, and self-centeredness; instead, people will be generous and selfless. As the kingdom of God breaks into the earth a celebration will ensue. In short, the kingdom of God is when things are put in their right order. This prayer invites us to think out the implications of the kingdom. As our heart meditates and dwells on this kingdom, we begin to become aligned with the will of God. As we reflect on the goodness of the kingdom our hearts are energized. Our new deepest desire is to seek the kingdom of God on this earth. We will literally pray with Jesus, "I want your kingdom to come here on earth, just like it is in heaven.” As our hearts are changed and the kingdom becomes our motivation, we will be transformed into agents of restoration and redemption.

Pray like Jesus: Our Father In Heaven

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 17:38:35 GMT

As we begin to look at the Lord's Prayer, we'll see that Jesus begins by telling us how not to pray. Jesus confronts our praying, calling into question our understanding of the practice of prayer and our understanding of the God we address in prayer. One one hand, we're often tempted to pray as a show for those around us, thinking that prayer is about sounding good and being recognized as spiritual. On the other hand, though we may pray with fervency and zeal, our passion often reveals that we don't think God is listening or that he cares. In both cases, Jesus says there is a simple solution. Listen in to hear his solution and how this solution should transform us and our praying.

Exodus- God Renews

Sun, 18 Dec 2011 17:49:51 GMT

This week in our study of Exodus we see a glimpse of hope. In the previous portions of the narrative the Israelite people are not painted in a positive light. In fact, Hard hearted, stubborn, and obstinate are all accurate descriptions of the Israelite's character. The recurring theme has surfaced- God continually shows favor and they repeatedly forget his goodness. It seems that the Israelite people are only interested in God because of what God can give them. However, this week we see a glimpse of hope. God plans to fulfill his covenant as promised, but with a twist- now He will not join them on the journey. At first glance it seems that this is exactly what the Israelites wanted. God was still going to clear out the region and give them a land flowing with milk & honey. However the Israelite people mourn. They are figuratively undone. They finally get it. The purpose of redemption is to be with and enjoy God. If God’s presence will not be with them, then they don’t want to go to the Promised Land. In fact, without the presence of God then it wouldn’t be a promise land. Listen in to hear the rest of the story.

Exodus- God Judges

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 18:23:20 GMT

We are in the middle of a story; a story of God rescuing his people. So far we have seen a group of people, called the Israelites, oppressed and enslaved. In their anguish they called out to God for relief. Yet, even before they began to call out, God was already preparing a man, Moses, for the job of liberating the marginalized. Negotiations ensued between Moses and Pharoah- the political leader of Egypt. Finally the Isrealites were granted their freedom. They immediately evacuated the city and were lead into the wilderness. What the Isrealites had always longed for: freedom, they finally received! However, being set free from the external restraints and bondage of Egypt was only the beginning. We then see the Isrealites continually bickering and complaining. They begin to disregard and disrespect the very God who miraculously rescued them. They even go so far as to make an inanimate object to worship! Why are they acting this way? How does this ancient story have any relevance for our lives? Listen in to hear Dave Musser teach the text.

Exodus- God Speaks

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 03:59:30 GMT

What comes to mind when you hear the phrase, “Commandments of God?” For me, a strait jacket is immediately pictured; or maybe, a manager with a long list of arbitrary rules. I then reason that a God who has rules or demands must be an overbearing, power hungry dictator. However, my concept of commandments and law has been completely challenged as we continue this study of Exodus. We see something that seems contradictory, a loving God- who also gives commandments. He is loving; this is certain. He has made it a personal priority to rescue the oppressed. He has set the slaves free and provided everything they needed to flourish. He is a good and loving God, but he also gives commands. Listen in to see why he gives these commands.

Exodus- God Satisfies

Sun, 27 Nov 2011 19:00:33 GMT

Exodus 16- 17

Exodus- God Cleanses

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 22:59:26 GMT

This week we explore chapters 12, 13, and 14 as we continue our study of Exodus. After years of harsh slavery and oppression it seems that the Israelites are finally going to be set free. The Israelite leader, Moses, has been confronting Pharaoh in order to secure the freedom of his people. With each denied request, Pharaoh and his people are inflicted with a judgment or plague. After numerous painful plagues pharaoh cannot endure anymore and he consents to the release of the captives. The Israelites are overwhelmed with joy. They quickly grab their belongings and evacuate the city. No longer will they be slaves to a foreign dictator. No longer will they be oppressed. No longer will they live under the fear of their children being murdered. As the Israelites continue to flee from Egypt they come to a barrier. The Red Sea is blocking their way. As the Israelites make camp they realize that something has gone horrible wrong. Off in the distance they can hear chariots, horses, and a great army marching. It seems that Egypt has come to seek retribution. The urgency rises and the tension mounts. What will the Israelites do? They have their back to a wall and are trapped. Listen in to hear the climax of the story unfold. Listen in to see how this ancient story relates to our life.

Exodus- God Redeems

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 22:04:19 GMT

Whenever we observe someone being mistreated or experience it firsthand our natural response is to cry out for justice. For instance what happens when someone cuts in front of you in line? You cry out for justice. What happens when someone cuts you off on the interstate? You cry out for justice. Or even more serious, what happens when a loved one is abused? Everyone who experiences real pain demands that the perpetrator is punished. Crying out for justice is completely natural and right. However we are not consistent across the board with justice. There is always one exception to this principle: ourselves. As soon as we are the one committing the abuse or mistreatment we want mercy. For example when we cut someone off on the interstate we roll our eyes and say, “No big deal.” Or when we mistreat someone we explain that this was an accident and they need to forgive us. It is clear that we want justice when pain has been afflicted on us and we want mercy when we are the one causing the pain. This week in Exodus we take a look at this tension of justice vs mercy. The Israelites are oppressed and cry out for justice. But truth be told the Israelites are just as guilty of sin as the Egyptians. If God is going to set things right and punish evil then he must punish everyone. Will God show mercy? Will God be good and just? These two questions collide with an unexpected outcome. God has found a way to implement both mercy and justice. Listen in to hear God’s story unfold.

Exodus- God Promises

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 22:36:52 GMT

Many Americans want to maximize their potential and live meaningful lives. One person might try to maximize her potential through adventure and travel. She will conquer mountains, travel to foreign countries, and experienc life off the beaten path. Another might aspire to academic achievement. A third will try to achieve meaning in life by maintaining a beautiful home, tire swing in the front yard, and three lovely children. In each instance the individual has the same goal in mind; however, the method employed to achieve the goal is vastly different. As we travel different paths to reach the same goal, we tend to convince ourselves there is one surefire way to gauge own progress: personal happiness. If the quality of our life has increased then we must be on the right path, but if our path is filled with pain then we must have done something wrong. We are all creating our own paths of purposefulness guided by the guard rails of happiness and pain. However the book of Exodus in the Bible sets forth a completely different paradigm. In fact, the criterion of happiness is actually subverted. The Israelites are experiencing real pain for seemingly no purpose. The book of Exodus is so completely radical and counter intuitive. With this story God challenges our American ideals and gives us a new way if understanding our lives. The book of Exodus is thought provoking and countercultural. Listen in to hear the 3,4, and 5 chapters of the book explained.

Exodus- God Knows

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 22:37:58 GMT

We begin our series of Exodus in Egypt as a new Pharaoh rises to power. The new pharaoh does not recognize the valuable contributions of Jospeh and his family to the nation of Egypt. Instead of viewing the Israelites as a blessing, the new pharaoh becomes angry and begins to spew propaganda about their corrupt intentions. The once highly esteemed Israelites are considered a threat to Egyptian sovereignty and are in turned are enslaved. Henceforth the Israelites worked long tedious days under the dominion of Egyptian task masters. It has been reported that Egypt was a place of pain for Israelites from the cradle to the grave. This slavery imposed on the Israelites actually had the opposite effect the Egyptians were hoping for. Instead of the Israelites diminishing, they actually grew under the harsh rule of Pharoah. The more oppressed the Israeiltes were, the greater they multiplied sons and daughters. In fear of the great Israelite numbers Pharaoh decreed that all male infants be murdered! This was the beginning of a systematic genocide. The beginning of Exodus is filled with pain, abuse, betrayal, and oppression. Naturally the Israeli people are left groaning and crying out to God for rescue from their torment. In the first two chapters of Exodus we are left asking one questions. Where is God? Listen in to see what God is up to.

Gospel Identity: Commissioning Service

Sun, 16 Oct 2011 17:26:33 GMT

God rescues broken people. Jesus did not come to save those who are doing well in life, but instead he came to save the hurt and wounded. As Jesus rescues people he adds them to a family. This family is called the church.
This week we did something different. We didn't hear a usual sermon from Steve, but instead we called up the nearly 40 leaders of Vintage to hear how they are being the church. Each leader shared a snap shot of their community. We got to see how they are caring for their community. We got to hear how they are openly repenting of the self righteousness and judgementalism. We got to witness stories of transformation. This overview of each little community is probably the most accurate picture of our church spread across the city.
After we got to see a snap shot of each community two of our leader shared some important news. Matt and Cyla's have decided to step down from elder-ship. They showed unprecedented vulnerability and humbled themselves before the congregation. Listen in to hear the whole story.

Gospel Identity: Learners

Sun, 09 Oct 2011 19:23:31 GMT

Within Christendom the Great Commission is perhaps the most widely known verse. This is the verse that has galvanized men and women alike to sell everything they own and voyage to distant lands with the motive of spreading the Gospel. This Great Commission first starts with a great announcement. This great announcement is the fuel that feeds the fire of mission. Jesus has come and rescued us from sin and self absorption. We have now been adopted into the family of God. Our biggest problem in life (spiritual lostness) has now been healed. This saving act of God properly understood will energize a Christian to go and announce the good news that has personally set them free. A Christian who has been set free of self can't help but stand up and proclaim the excellencies of Jesus.

Gospel Identity: Servants

Sun, 02 Oct 2011 19:33:34 GMT

As Christians our posture should be characterized by a humble graciousness. We should be active in service towards outsiders. We should be giving our lives away for the sake of others. This is what Titus chapter three states. Christians should be carful to devout themsleves to good works. However, this posture is not natural. In fact, our hearts tend to go in the opposite direction. Instead of living a life to serve others, we focus inward and become self absorbed. On our own we are a bundle of deep emptiness. We are obssively trying to fill up what is lacking in us. This means every relationship we are in is a means to an end. We are not loving and serving others for their good, but intead for our good. Even if externally we are doing something good, underneath the surface our motives are tainted with self interest. How can we ever break this cycle of self-centerdness? Listen in as the book of Titus gives an answer.

Gospel Identity: Missionaries

Sun, 25 Sep 2011 16:38:15 GMT

This week we contine our study of Gospel Partnership. As we work our way through this series the flow of the gospel jumps off the pages of scripture. Last week we saw that Jesus was cast out of his family in order that we may be brought into his. This is the flow of the gospel. Because Jesus has done something we now have a new identity of being in the family of God. Particularly this week we look at 1 Peter 2:9-11. As we focus on 1 Peter we see the flow of the gospel once again. Jesus is a mission God. He has left the comforts of his home in order to come love, serve, and ultimately reconcile others to himself. Jesus mission was infinetly costly to himself. Because Jesus has done this we are now given a new identity. Listen in as the text is explained.

Gospel Identity: Family

Sun, 18 Sep 2011 18:09:43 GMT

Jesus was cast out of his family so that we may be brought into his. As we are brought into the family of God we are naturally given a new identity. Our new title is beloved children of the king. In this sermon we focus in on what it means to be in the family of God. Pastor Evan and Steve take a look at the resources of the family. If we could truly grasp that we are children of the king then we would live completely different lifes.

Gospel: Power and Purpose

Sun, 11 Sep 2011 17:20:03 GMT

The gospel is powerful.

If properly understood it will radically change you.

The gospel is the worlds most powerful resource to transform self absorbed and self centered people into sacrificial servants.

But Jesus doesn't just change us in order that we sit on and hoard the blessings of his grace. Instead he has blessed us in order to be a blessing. This is the purpose of the gospel. It is powerful to change, but always goes hand in hand with the explicit purpose of blessing others.

In this passage we take a look first at the power of the gospel. How is the gospel so powerful and so radical? We then take a look at the natural outworking of the gospel. What is the purpose of the gospel?

I AM the True Vine

Sun, 28 Aug 2011 16:11:58 GMT

What does it mean to believe in Jesus?

In order to properly understand who Jesus is we must examine his claims. In this concluding message we take a look at his last I AM statement. All of the I AM statements are claims Jesus makes, he then follows the claim by a phrase that explains himself further. Each of the I AM statements is loaded with content and information about who he is or what he will do.

In this specific passage Jesus announces that he is the true vine and his disciples are the branches. As the branch abides in the vine, it will naturally produce much fruit. What exactly is the fruit and why is this relevant to us today? Listen in as Steve dives into the text.

I Am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life

Sun, 21 Aug 2011 21:23:37 GMT

Jesus humbles himself and washes his disciples feet. In the cultural context this would be the job of a servant. This was perhaps one of the most foul and degrading jobs of the day. However we find Jesus kneeling down and individually scrubbing the excrement and dirt off each individuals foot.

Jesus then gives a command. He commands that with the same love and humility he has demonstrated, they are to love others and do likewise. For the disciples this seems like an absolutely impossible command. They could never feed the hungry, heal the sick, love the unlovely, and lead the hopeless like Jesus did.

As the weight of Jesus command sinks in our hearts we are naturally troubled. We cannot love like Jesus did. Our hearts are too self serving, too self centered, and entirely too self absorbed. How will we ever put others before our own well being?

Only Jesus can set us free from our slavery to serving self.

Jesus is the Way, Truth, and Life.

I AM the Resurrection and the Life

Sun, 14 Aug 2011 18:35:28 GMT

Jesus I want you to love me in this way!

Very rarely would we explicity verbalize this concept, but underneath the surface this is how we often operate. We have a long list of goals and achievements that we ask Jesus to give us. If Jesus does a good job at giving us what we want then we will attest to his love. But if Jesus doesnt give us what we want the he must not love us.

Jesus challenges this entire concept. As Lazarus lay on his death bed, Jesus strategically delays his arrival. On the surface it doesn't seem like Jesus is concerned with the well being of his friend Lazarus. Why doesn't Jesus swoop in to rescue his friend? Sometimes Jesus' love looks different from how we think it should look.

Listen in as Pastor Matt takes us through the passage.

I AM the Son of God

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 16:09:25 GMT

Jesus has been making radical claims about who he is. For instance he has claimed to be the light of the world, the heaven opener, and the good shepherd. All of Jesus' claims have been allusions to the Old Testament were a messiah was promised to come.

The Jews of the day would most assuradly be aware of the weight of Jesus claims. Therefore we come to this text where Jesus is confronted by all the Jewish leaders. They encircle him publically at a major feast in Jersalem. The question they ask is "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ tell us plainly."

In the sermon we will take a look at Jesus response to the Jews.

I AM the Good Shepherd

Sun, 24 Jul 2011 15:41:06 GMT

Most animals have some form of attack when it comes to predators. Usually when an animal is not equipped with some form of attack, then they have the ability to evade a predator or at least defend themselves. However Sheep do not not have either an attack mechanism or a strong defense, in fact they really don't even have a way to escape predators. Sheep have no fangs, can't run fast, and their "bah" is pathetic. Sheep are utterly vulnerable and defenseless. They are completely reliant on a shepherd to lead, guide, and sustain them. In this passage Jesus claims to be the good shepherd. But Jesus goes above and beyond the normal duties of a shepherd. Listen to the sermon to hear how Jesus distinguishes between himself and other shepherds.

I AM the door

Sun, 17 Jul 2011 15:40:27 GMT

This week Jesus challenges the religious teachers by claiming that he is the door. This claim is tied to an Old Testament reference where the Lord chastises the teacher of Israel. In the Old Testament reference the teachers who were supposed to look over and care for the flock are actually doing the opposite. Instead of feeding the flock they are using, abusing, and neglecting the flock.

Jesus comes onto the scene and claims to be the long awaited door. Any teacher who is not pointing toward some other way is a false teacher. A true shepherd will point toward Jesus who is the true shepherd.

I AM the I AM

Sun, 10 Jul 2011 15:41:42 GMT

In today's passage, Jesus makes the most absurd claim yet, with a bit of bad grammar: "Before Abraham was, I am." He's just spend 20-some verses telling those who are just beginning to believe in him that they are: 1. Not children of Abraham, 2. Not sons of God, and 3. Children of the devil. Doesn't Jesus know that this is no way to start a movement? Why does he insist on painting such a negative picture of human nature? The answer is simple: you don't know how great the Rescue is until you know how dangerous your situation has become; you don't know how great a cure you've been given unless you know the disease was terminal! But Jesus wants those who say they believe in him off the fence - you can't stay neutral to Jesus, sitting in the pew and confessing to believe in him but living the rest of your life for yourself. In these radical claims - that he is the Great I Am, the one whom Abraham worshipped - Jesus commands us to decide - will we crown him or kill him?

I AM the Light of the World

Sat, 25 Jun 2011 15:42:02 GMT

As we continue our study in the gospel of John we come to an outrageous claim of Jesus. Jesus claims that he is the Light of the World. The original Jewish audience would have rightly understood that this title was a reference to the light that guided the Jewish nation in the wildness. Jesus is now taking this title upon himself and is claiming that he is the Light. Jesus then proceeds to heal a man of a life of blindness. In this exciting portion of scripture Jesus is physically healing people while simultaneously revealing his divinity. Then there are two reactions to Jesus. One man understands his inability to see and is then given sight. Meanwhile others declare themselves to understand and in so doing they sentence themselves. Jesus proclaims, "If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, 'We see,' your guilt remains."

I AM from Above

Sun, 19 Jun 2011 16:44:24 GMT

Once again Jesus and his actions are utterly shocking. Jesus enters the heart of the religious establishment of his day and proclaims, "you will die in your sin!" The people Jesus was confronting were the hard working, devoted, faithful bible teachers of their day. Externally it would appear that the Pharisees were doing a good job and following the rules correctly. But they (we) fail to understand that our primary problem is not the gaps in our performance. Instead the entire performance is the problem. Our entire life is centered around making ourselves righteous. We think if we work hard then Jesus HAS to bless us. In the end we are our own savior and Jesus is our tool to fill in the gaps of our poor performance. This entire endeavor needs to be repented of because of the crooked motive with which is was implemented. Then Jesus tells us that the only way to be righteous is to believe Jesus will accomplish it for us.

I AM the Living Bread

Sun, 12 Jun 2011 16:18:28 GMT

Jesus is offensive, and if you've never been offended by what he says about yourself and what he claims for himself, you're not listening very closely. And what's worse, you've probably made Jesus in your image, a nice caricature that (surprise!) really wants to help you (yes, you!) accomplish your great plans for your life (isn't that nice of him?). When you look closely, Jesus actually often refuses to meet our needs - as legitimate as they may be - because he wants something greater for us. He will not be co-opted for our agenda, but instead invites us to repent and find real life in him. He gave his life not for us to be blessed in our agendas but that we might be freed from our little agendas to find abundance in him.

Come and See

Sun, 05 Jun 2011 18:20:30 GMT

In this intro sermon to our summer series we take a look at how Jesus begins his ministry. Jesus begins his ministry by telling people, "Come and you will see." Some immediately recognize Jesus as the messiah while others have a healthy skepticism's. For instance Nathanael doubts anything good can come from Nazareth (the modern equivalent of Deer Park). However Jesus encounters Nathanael and reveals intimate personal knowledge that only God could have known. The skeptic is cut to his core by the character of Christ. Nathanael is overwhelmed and declares Jesus to be the Son of God! Jesus then explains that this is only the beginning.

Galatians 6B: The Gospel Rule

Sun, 22 May 2011 18:25:56 GMT

Paul wraps up his main theme by driving home the centrality of the cross to the Christian message. All that Christianity is points to and flows from what God has done for us in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. If you grab hold of the cross, and make it your single boast, all of life flows in worship to God and sacrificial love to others. This is the "rule" by which all true believers live!

Galatians 6A: Gospel Relationships

Sun, 15 May 2011 19:39:20 GMT

The gospel changes everything, most of all our relationships. Apart from Christ, Paul says we're "empty of glory" and so we use one another, biting and devouring in order to try to fill ourselves up. But in Christ, in his grace, in the abundance of all he is for us, we are free to love and serve one another. We can carry each others' burdens, graciously deal with our sin, and keep each other centered on Jesus. Additionally, each of us has a role in building this kind of community.

Galatians 5A: Freed for Freedom

Sun, 01 May 2011 16:11:07 GMT

The glorious freedom given us in Christ is an established fact - we ARE free. Jesus has done all the work necessary to make us fully and completely free. But what is the freedom that we have? And what is our role in maintaining that freedom? And for what purpose has God set us free? These are the questions Paul begins to answer in the last 1/3 of Galatians. In this passage, he transitions from the theology of grace to how grace changes the way we live.

Easter 2011 - The Gospel Ruined My Life

Sun, 24 Apr 2011 16:15:33 GMT

This Easter we looked at the radical transformation that happened in Saul's life when his religious self-righteousness collided with the resurrected King Jesus. Not surprisingly, the collision resulted in Saul's death. After being blinded for 3 days, in which he totally reconsidered the direction of his life, Jesus resurrected Saul, gave him a new name (Paul), forgave his sin, filled him with His Spirit, brought him into His Family, and sent him on a mission to proclaim the name of Jesus!

Galatians 4C: Rejoice!

Sun, 17 Apr 2011 19:06:46 GMT

Using a strange old Testament allusion, Paul puts the nail in the coffin of religion. Religion can't save, religion can't heal, religion can set you free. Religion is dead because Jesus is alive, and when you begin to experience the freeness of grace, the only right response is to celebrate!

Galatians 4B: Gospel Ministry

Sun, 10 Apr 2011 21:47:49 GMT

After 3 chapters of intense theological passion, Paul reveals that his passion stems from a deeply pastoral heart. Paul loves the Galatians, and wants nothing more than for them to stand in the freedom of God's grace, no longer living as slaves and orphans. In this section, we learn about the nature of gospel ministry, and how we can help others come to full and fruitful maturity in Jesus.

Galatians 4A: Slaves and Sons

Sun, 03 Apr 2011 22:42:13 GMT

All our attempts to be righteous, acceptable, and OK before God and others are in reality a source of spiritual and emotional slavery. Paul argues that apart from Christ we are naturally slaves. But now that Jesus has come to rescue us, we are given a new identity and a new family, and we are set free to love God and love others. Adoption is the wellspring of the Christian life.

Galatians 3B: Promise, Law, and Substitution

Sun, 27 Mar 2011 22:12:56 GMT

According to Paul, Abraham was the first Christian. The sham Christians wanted the Galatian church to believe that their day-to-day acceptance from God was based on personal obedience and effort. But if that is true, then they've got a serious Biblical problem: Abraham, the father of their faith, was justified by faith, long before the Law came. Paul argues that the pattern in Abraham - God's promise received by faith - is the pattern of grace, from Genesis to Revelation.

Galatians 3A: The Way On

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 22:51:21 GMT

Many people believe that faith in Christ is the way someone becomes a Christian. But it is also common to believe that once you are "in," everything else is up to you. We give lip service to the idea that we're saved by grace, but in the day-to-day of our actual lives, we live as a performer, hoping to please God and keep in the graces of others. Paul argues in Galatians 3 that we've missed something key. The way we became a Christian is actually the way we grow as a Christian. The gospel deals with the root motivations and desires of our hearts, and changes us from the inside-out.

Galatians 2B: Walking the Gospel Line

Sun, 06 Mar 2011 23:56:10 GMT

"Jesus Christ loved me and gave himself for me" is the simple truth of the gospel. It is so simple, in fact, that when we first (and often again and again) encounter it we are (as Luther famously said), "like a cow staring at a new gate." It seems so simple that we think we get it. But in this passage, the Apostle Peter reveals that even he often doesn't get it, as he needed Paul to remind him of it! In this confrontation between spiritual heavy weights, we learn that the gospel is a profound truth that transforms every aspect of life. We also learn how to have that truth change us.

Galatians 2A: Freedom For Mission

Sun, 27 Feb 2011 16:31:10 GMT

Paul continues his personal defense of the gospel and his ministry by relating his eventual journey to Jerusalem to meet with Peter, James, and John. Though he had been preaching the gospel and making disciples for 14 years, this is the first time the disciples of Jesus have sat with Paul to discuss the gospel they preach. The conclusion? They are preaching the same exact gospel, though Paul is preaching to Gentiles and they to the Jews. In this encounter, we learn about the freedom the gospel brings to religious and non-religious people, and how that freedom leads to a life of gospel purpose and care for the poor.

Galatians 1B: A Rescue Story

Sun, 20 Feb 2011 23:06:13 GMT

Part of how Paul preaches the good news about Jesus rescuing sinners is by telling his own experience of rescue. Paul was a self-righteous, religious fanatic before he met Jesus, even going on a campaign to destroy the fledgling Christian church. He was advancing in his religious studies and his personal holiness, even outstripping his peers. He studied the Bible in the best school in Jerusalem. And then his life was ruined by Jesus!

Galatians 1A: Gospel Drift

Sun, 13 Feb 2011 00:30:48 GMT

The Christian message, often called the Gospel, is so unnatural and scandalous that it often seems to good to be true. This was true even in Paul's day, as many religious people followed him around saying that his gospel - that God rescues sinners apart from any merit of their own - couldn't possibly be true. Or could it?

Psalm 103: God is Gracious

Sun, 30 Jan 2011 23:01:28 GMT

Psalm 103 is a feast. David, a man of great power and importance, the king of Israel, is preaching to his own soul about who God is and what God has done. David knows that our biggest temptation is to forgetfulness - "bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits" - so he's written Psalm 103 as a way to remember. In it he recalls his own frailty, a great antidote to pride and self-reliance. But he spends the vast majority of the Psalm remembering and delighting himself in the abundance of God's grace in forgiving, healing, redeeming, crowning, and satisfying the hearts of the needy and broken. Psalm 103 is a feast for those who by grace are becoming aware of their emptiness, frailty, and sin. God is gracious!

Psalm 84: God is Good

Sun, 23 Jan 2011 23:55:46 GMT

Psalm 84 gives us a picture of a man who longed for God and loved God above everything else. His poetry is shocking as he expresses in the language of desire and addiction his longings for God. His single-minded affections are a strong word of rebuke to those of us who say we love God, and in this we are called to attention and repentance for our love of comfort and pleasures that are so much less satisfying than God.

Psalm 31: God is Glorious

Sun, 16 Jan 2011 22:17:05 GMT

We continue to look at how Psalms help us to meditate on the truth of God's word and to daily preach the gospel to ourselves by looking at Psalm 31. For many of us, the truth we know about God's love and approval of us, given to us because of Jesus, is not very defining of us or real to us. We know it intellectually, but our hearts are shaped by the words, actions, and opinions of those around us. The bible calls this the fear of man. We often live for the approval and acceptance of a certain person or group of people. Psalm 31 invites us to remember God's steadfast love and to rejoice again in his goodness toward us, so we no longer need to fear others.

Psalm 27: God is Great

Sun, 09 Jan 2011 17:46:50 GMT

Psalms invite us to become like the well-watered tree, with roots going deep into God's word, bringing forth abundant fruit. In Psalm 27, David is tempted - as many of us are - to judge God's character based on his circumstances. We often tie our joy to having life go a certain way for us, using God as a means to a life under control. But David rejoices because he doesn't need control, for God is great and sovereign, in the midst of chaos.

Psalm 1: Meditation

Sun, 02 Jan 2011 16:49:29 GMT

Psalm 1 is the doorway into the Psalms, preparing us for understanding what the Psalms are all about. Deep happiness - blessedness! - is connected to rejoicing and meditating on the law of the Lord. The Psalms invite us to learn to meditate, drawing deeply from the resources of God's grace and truth, in order to live full and abundant lives, joyfully obedient in God's Redemptive Story. The Psalms are the prayers and songs of men who have meditated deeply on who God is and what he has done, and we can learn with them how to preach the gospel to ourselves daily.

Deuteronomy 11

Sun, 19 Dec 2010 16:44:16 GMT

Moses ends his first round of sermons by driving home his main themes. His hope for God's people is that they'd be fully alive to the grace of God, awed by his faithfulness to them, and encouraged by his presence with them as they move into the Promised Land. His summary covers 4 main topics: Love God with all you are, watch closely the deceptiveness of your heart, keep the Redemptive story in front of your mind and heart, and remember God has called you into His mission for His purposes.

Deuteronomy 8

Sun, 05 Dec 2010 19:50:21 GMT

As Israel prepares to move into the Promised Land, Moses begins to warn them of the dangers ahead. Last week we looked at the dangers of the surrounding cultures - the desires and ways of life that are incompatible with being a missionary people. But this week Moses' warning is a bit surprising. One of the most dangerous obstacles to Israel fulfilling God's great mission for them would be the abundance that God was going to pour out on them. God intends to bless Israel in order to bless the nations, but this blessing could easily become a snare if Israel forgets God's gracious redemption and begins to arrogantly hold on to and take credit for all God is giving. How can they rightly handle God's abundance?

Deuteronomy 7

Sun, 28 Nov 2010 23:19:54 GMT

Moses continues to proclaim God's glory and his grace in chapter 7 by telling Israel of God's relentless, reckless, zealous love. God loves the whole world with a passionate zeal, but he has particularly set his affections on Israel. Why would God choose this people - the lowest, least, and most unimpressive people? The answer is astounding: The LORD loves Israel because God in his sovereign goodness chose to love her. There is no reason outside of the heart of God that he loves Israel. To believe that God loves his creation is one thing; to realize that he has set his affections on a rebellious people and intends to draw them to himself and use them to rescue the world is a story too good to be true! *We apologize for the poor sound quality of this recording.

Deuteronomy 6

Sun, 21 Nov 2010 19:14:36 GMT

Deuteronomy 6 gets to the heart of the Law, answering the key question of what God really wants from his people. Though you may be overly familiar with it, the real shocker is that God doesn't want external conformity to his rules and regulations; He is after the heart, soul, and strength of his people. God wants his people to love him with total commitment, with their total self, to total excess. But how can God command us to love him like that? Where do we get the power to love God with all we are?

10 Commandments

Sun, 14 Nov 2010 21:36:21 GMT

The 10 Commandments are the heart of the book of Deuteronomy. They are the only laws God actually spoke to the people of Israel as a whole, out of the fire on the mountain. The Commandments are simply but beautiful, as they tell us much about who God is and the kind of life that we were created to live. But they also cause more than a bit of unease, as we begin to realize our inability to keep them and the weight of their demands. How should we then understand the Law?

A Consuming Fire

Sun, 07 Nov 2010 17:09:28 GMT

As Moses' sermon rises to a climax, he describes the kind of relationship that God desires to have with his people. The word he uses is "covenant," a strong biblical word which means God has fully committed himself to his people, and desires their whole-hearted allegiance in return. The alternative to covenant with God, though, is not so much atheism as idolatry. According to Moses, our biggest problem is that we've covenanted with other things, and are now spiritual addicts. How can we be free, so that the consuming fire of a jealous God does not destroy us?

The Grace of the Law

Sun, 31 Oct 2010 23:21:37 GMT

Reading through Deuteronomy brings you face to face with an intense tension. On the one hand, God is gracious and wants to be near his people, so he gives them instructions about how to live and flourish in relationship to him and to the world around them. On the other hand, his instructions are not suggestions about how to live but laws to which he requires absolute obedience. How do we live in the tension? Do we throw out the Law because of Jesus? Or does the Law continue to hold authority in the life of a Christian?

Deuteronomy 2-3: Justice and Mercy

Sun, 24 Oct 2010 21:12:28 GMT

While Chapters 2-3 are largely historical, they contain some of the most important truths in the book of Deuteronomy. These 2 chapters recount (in brief) the wanderings of the Israelites in the desert over 40 years while the unbelieving generation dies off. We see in these narrative God's justice, that he is fully committed to dealing rightly with sin, wickedness, and rebellion. He is the rightful judge of all men and all nations. At the same time, we see him graciously working with his people, not giving up on his promise, and preparing them for the future redemptive plan. How can God be both the Righteous Judge and the Merciful King?

Missional Community Commissioning 2010

Sun, 03 Oct 2010 20:52:32 GMT

Jesus gave one over-arching ministry to his disciples: make disciples. In that one little command, Jesus sums up everything he has done with his disciples over 3 years of life and ministry, and then commits each of them to giving their lives to carry it on. The Great Commission carries as much weight on all who are disciples today as did on those original disciples. Is your life about the making of disciples? And what does it look like when a whole church commits themselves to this ministry? Listen in as we commission our missional communities for this ministry.

Discipleship to Jesus: Servants

Sun, 26 Sep 2010 21:01:59 GMT

Discipleship to Jesus is an impossible possibility. We cannot do it. No amount of effort on my part makes me a disciple of Jesus. Jesus chooses disciples, calls them, saves them, and sends them. He takes men and women who naturally live as self-sufficient, self-absorbed, glory-slaves, and turns them into radically other-centered, self-forgetting, joyfully sacrificial servants. Disciples of Jesus are Servants. But how does this happen?

Discipleship to Jesus: A Family of Missionaries

Sun, 19 Sep 2010 18:09:04 GMT

What is discipleship to Jesus? What happens when someone gets chosen and called by Jesus into discipleship? In this passage in Mark, Jesus calls his first disciples, the 12 men he'll spend 3 years sharing life with and preparing for ministry. When Jesus calls disciples, he gives them a new and secure identity - they are "with him." At the same time, he calls disciples to himself so that he can "send them" to continue his work. Jesus later says, "Whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing." In this sermon, we look at what it means for us to be called to be "with Jesus" and then sent by Jesus into our city together.

The Catastrophic Good News

Sun, 12 Sep 2010 20:26:03 GMT

Do you consider yourself a disciple of Jesus? Do you know what that means? A disciple is generally regarded as someone who has chosen to believe in Jesus and then tries hard to follow his teachings. Unfortunately, that is nothing like how Jesus would define a disciple. Listen in as Jesus explains discipleship seriously devout middle-class businessman, and see how Jesus' definition of disciple absolutely ruins this man's life.

Gospel Growth 13

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 19:16:02 GMT

Is your life bearing the fruit of the Spirit, or are the evidences of fruit more likely imitation fruit? True fruit happens not as we try hard to get our flesh to behave, but as we stay close to Christ, bringing our flesh to the cross to kill it. In this important message, we'll look at the problem of imitation fruit.

Gospel Growth 12

Sun, 15 Aug 2010 19:01:30 GMT

What are the things that keep us from walking in the works that God has prepared beforehand to be our way of life? And what would it look like to completely jettison these things so that we can be fully available to the kingdom work Jesus calls us to? Do we believe his promises enough to obey his commands?

Gospel Growth 11

Sun, 01 Aug 2010 16:26:58 GMT

When it comes to walking in obedience to Jesus, we all have areas of our life where we fail. Lots of them. How do you deal with those areas? What do you do when you know what to do, but you don't want to do it? Do you just put forth more effort, try harder, grunt it out, and hope that your desires catch up eventually? Or do you stop, wait, pray, ask God to change your heart, and keep waiting on him until he does? Or is there another option?

Gospel Growth 10

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 16:21:03 GMT

The author of Hebrews reminds us that when we are facing trials, when the things we think we need are being stripped from us, though it is not pleasant at the time, we must remember that our Heavenly Father is doing what he knows is best. He is ripping our hands off the things that are killing us so that we can find life in him alone.

Gospel Growth 9

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 16:14:18 GMT

What is maturity? What does it look like, and how do we get there? As Christians, we often pursue maturity - surprisingly! - by leaving the simple truths of the gospel. Although this can result in what looks like growth - Bible study, prayer, church attendance, evangelism - it can be a subtle way of keeping control of our lives and not holding tightly to Christ

Gospel Growth 8

Sun, 11 Jul 2010 16:36:02 GMT

As we continue our study in how the gospel transforms us day by day, we'll uncover Paul's teaching in Ephesians 4 regarding daily growth. As we come to see our sin more clearly, we are constantly in need of returning to Christ, re-learning the gospel, and finding renewal in all He is and has done for us.

Gospel Growth 7

Sun, 27 Jun 2010 16:40:01 GMT

If we are going to be transformed by the gospel, it begins with the "renewing of our minds" - but that is a dangerous place to be honest about! Our minds are often a playground of sinful desire and jockeying for position. The conversations we have, the scenarios we dream up, and the events we recall all reveal either belief or unbelief. What does your mind treasure, rejoice in, and remember?

Gospel Growth 6

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 16:24:07 GMT

Though we believe that the Gospel not only saves us initially, but also continues to transform us, we are easily seduced to alternative ways of growing. Sadly, many of these alternatives have a distinctively Christian flavor, though they all miss the heart of the gospel. What are the "Christian" alternatives to Gospel Growth, and how do we avoid them? How can we stay centered on what really matters and what really transforms us - the life, death and resurrection of Jesus?

Gospel Growth 5

Sun, 13 Jun 2010 19:19:51 GMT

We continue to look at how the gospel changes us, particularly in the context of Christian community. For real change to happen, we must be deeply "in" community. God saves us as individuals, but he saves us into His Family, to be a people who love one another as Christ has loved us. At the same time, simply being in community is not sufficient for the kind of growth the gospel promises. Our community must be thoroughly gospel focused, speaking the gospel truth to one another, bringing the good news to bear on all of our struggles and joys. Though it may seem obvious, this kind of community never happens without intentionality.

Gospel Growth 4

Sun, 30 May 2010 17:20:11 GMT

We're continuing our study on how change happens in the Christian life. Most Christians understand that we are saved by grace through faith, but then continue to live as if growth happens by a ton of hard work and discipline. As a result, Christianity moves very quickly from a joyful response to God's saving work to a drudgery of discipline, and eventual to what feels like spiritual death. This week we look at the connection between gospel declarations - what God has done - and gospel obligations - how we ought to respond. If we miss the New Testament flow - from declaration to obligation - we'll miss the very heart of Christianity!

Gospel Growth 3

Sun, 23 May 2010 17:03:33 GMT

The target of Paul's hopes and prayers for the Ephesians is summed up in v.19: "So that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." It is a simple line, but it is packed with implications for what we even think it means to be a Christian! What does Paul hope for when he prays that we'd be filled with the fullness of God? Why is that the goal? And how does that happen?

Gospel Growth 2

Sun, 16 May 2010 16:50:31 GMT

We continue looking at Paul's prayer for the church at Ephesus. When Paul prays that "Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith," what is he asking and hoping for? What does this overly familiar phrase really mean?

Gospel Growth 1

Sun, 09 May 2010 17:27:44 GMT

There is a lot of talk these days about change and transformation, both within and outside the church. Unfortunately, most change is motivated by self-improvement and accomplished through self-effort. If this is how change comes, you've not dealt with the real and deepest problem: self! So how does change happen by grace, real change, that transforms you into a new kind of person? In this series we will explore Gospel Growth - the source and power of real growth.

Life in the End

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 19:24:51 GMT

The entire Old Testament points forward to the coming of Jesus Christ and God’s great rescue mission. The first four books of the New Testament tell the story of Jesus, intermixed with theological reflection and commentary on how the early disciples of Jesus came to understand what it all meant. The rest of the New Testament essentially looks back on the person and work of Jesus, drawing out the implications of his Rescue for the people he rescued! But one book in the New Testament does something different. Rather than look back at Jesus incarnation, his death, and his resurrection, the book of Revelation is a forward looking account of the end of the Story. One of Jesus’ closest friends, John, has a vision in which he sees into the heavenly realm, and is enabled to see how the Story turns out in the end. We know by looking at the cross and resurrection that the victory has been won: sin has been forgiven and done away with, and people can be reconciled to God right now. But the book of Revelation reminds us that God’s rescue of a people is going somewhere, it has a purpose, a final end where the Story finds resolution. This week we look at the end of the Story.

The Church

Sun, 18 Apr 2010 15:47:37 GMT

Above all, what we see in the early church - both in the book of Acts and in the New Testament letters - is that the church is a Rescued People. Each and every person who is a part of this new community called the Church is a part not because of their commitment to God, their desire to be obedient, or their eagerness to serve in ministry. All of these are good things, but they do not make someone a Christian, do not make someone a part of God’s rescued people. If you are a Christian, you are so because God has rescued you from sin, guilt, shame, and rebellion in Jesus Christ.

The Mission and Power

Sun, 11 Apr 2010 18:01:23 GMT

The rest of the book of Acts traces the powerful advancement of the kingdom through Jesus' disciples. As they preached, shared their lives together, served the needy, and performed miracles in the power of the Spirit, the church grew rapidly. The Story was told again and again, and many people repented of sin, believed in the Lord Jesus, and were baptized into the new people of God. That which God had promised to Abraham was being fulfilled now by this new, gospel-formed people - the church! Did these disciples have any idea what they signed up for?!

Death and Resurrrection

Sun, 04 Apr 2010 17:07:12 GMT

In Luke 24, Dr. Luke recounts the story of a couple of bewildered disciples walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus a few days after Jesus’ crucifixion. As they walked, they discussed the recent events, trying to put it all together in a way that made sense. As they talked, they were suddenly joined by a stranger. Luke tells us it was Jesus, but the two disciples don’t recognize him. As they recount the events to this stranger, it is clear they could make no sense of Jesus’ death: “But we had hoped he was the one to redeem Israel.” The death of Jesus had thoroughly dashed their hopes. Adding to their sorrow was a confusing piece of the puzzle: some of the women of their group went to the tomb and found it empty and the body gone. At this point the stranger speaks up: “O foolish ones and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!” N.T. Wright says it well: “The response of the stranger is to tell the Story - differently.” Jesus opens the Scriptures and takes these two disciples on a whirlwind tour of the Story, from Genesis to the Prophets, showing the necessity of the Messiah’s death and resurrection. Jesus had to die and then enter into his glory. The death of Jesus was no hope-dashing conspiracy; it was the climax of the Story! The Messiah, as the new Adam and the Servant of Israel, had to take on the full weight of creation’s rebellion. It was the only way God could destroy sin without destroying the people that he loved. “On the cross he drew the full force not only of that despoiling [of creation], but of his own proper, judicial, punitive rejection of it, on to himself. Read in this way, the multiple strands of idolatry, sin, evil, wickedness, oppression, violence, judgment and all the rest throughout the Old Testament come rushing together and do their worst to Je- sus. He takes their full force, and does so because that was God's purpose all along.” All along, this has been God’s purpose: to destroy sin and rescue his creation by putting himself in our place and taking the punishment we deserve.

Life and Mission of Jesus

Sun, 28 Mar 2010 19:34:35 GMT

Jeremiah 31 predicts that God will come to his people, his creation, and he will finally and fully deal with the heart issue - he will fully remove sin, and he will give them new hearts that love Him and want to obey him. And he will recreate the world like Eden, where everyone knows him and enjoys him forever. In the life and ministry of Jesus, we begin to see the threads of the Old Testament story break into reality.

Prophets

Sun, 21 Mar 2010 21:03:45 GMT

We pick the story up this week in the midst of this slide toward total rebellion against God - again. Israel’s kings, rather than mediating between God and his people and keeping his people faithful to Him in grateful worship and missional obedience, lead the charge toward idolatry, unrighteousness, and using the nations for Israel’s own gain! The nation does almost the exact opposite of what God created them to do. God’s response is to send prophets.

Judges and Kings

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 18:04:18 GMT

The sad story of Israel’s failure to hold faithfully to God sets up a new devel- opment in the Story. The repeated refrain of the book of Judges is, “There was no King in Israel in those days; everyone did what was right in their own eyes.” Israel begins to long for someone who can keep her faithful to God, unite her as a nation, and make her useful to God again. The first King, Saul, though hu- manly speaking a perfect choice, proves to be just as unfaithful as Israel ever was. So God chooses a humble shepherd, a boy named David, and proceeds to raise him into the kind of King Israel needs. David is far from perfect - he commits adultery and murders the woman’s husband - but he understands that God is after the heart, not just the outward actions. David truly loves God and wants to live dependently on him. Can David be longed-for King?

StoryFormed: Exodus and the Law

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 23:03:11 GMT

We pick up the Story this week with God’s people multiplying rapidly in Egypt. They are well on their way to becoming the “nation” that God promised. Unfortunately, their hosts, the Egyptians, also see them multiplying, and are afraid that Israel might easily rise up and conquer them. So they force them into hard labor, and begin to kill all males born to Israelite women. Under the pres- sure of slavery, God’s people cry out to him, not realizing that he has already set a rescue plan in motion in the birth and rise of Moses.

StoryFormed: A People Of God

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 23:07:08 GMT

Out of this world gone mad, God calls a man named Abram. Abram his not a righteous man by any means, but God graciously chooses him, commands him to leave his land, and gives him a wonderful promise: “I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.” God is making a promise that he will restore all that was lost in Eden through this one man and his family. God is not hoping Abram will do something amazing and heal the world. Rather, God is telling Abram that He will heal the world through him, by blessing Abram and his family, growing them into a huge nation, and bringing his blessing back to all the nations through them.

StoryFormed: Beginnings and Separation

Sun, 14 Feb 2010 22:43:49 GMT

What do we learn about God, humanity, and ourselves as we read Genesis 1-3? First, we learn about God. He is the Creator of all that is, who fashioned the universes with simple but powerful words. As Creator, he is also the rightful King of Creation. Everything that is made belongs to him and finds its fulfillment in Him. Second, we learn about humanity. God creates humanity in his image - they are to find their life, identity, and source of significance in relationship to Him alone. They reflect him. Humanity is made in community, not as single isolated human beings, but as a family. This family is given the task of cultivating the earth God has made, bringing forth a God honoring culture in every sphere of life. Third, we learn the sad story of the brokenness of the world. As we hear the Story of Adam and Eve spurning their loving Creator in pursuit of the self-sufficiency, we learn the source of all the brokenness in the world. We learn that sin is not so much breaking laws as it is mistrusting God’s good intentions. They’d learn that running from God is humanity’s natural bent, and they’d see their own participation in that rebellion. Thousands of years later, in another garden, another man would experience the temptation to mistrust God’s heart. Jesus Christ would see the cross, understand the full implications of taking the Sin of the World upon his shoulders, and willingly step forward in obedience to his Father. To Adam God had said, “Obey me and live;” to Jesus God says, “Obey me and you will die.” And in the obedience of Jesus, God opens the way back into the Garden of Eden, back into fellowship with God. The Bible’s main theme is “God saves sinners.”