Vintage Faith Community

Pastor: Steve Hart

The Spirit’s job is to take the objective reality of our Father’s love for us and make it real to us. Sinclair Ferguson says it like this: “If it is a fact that God has adopted us into his family, then the Spirit must come and assure us that this is true. The Spirit must enable us to live in the enjoyment of such a rich spiritual blessing. God sends his Spirit into our hearts bringing us the deep spiritual and psychological security that rests on the objective fact that our sins are forgiven and we completely belong to the Lord.”

Holy Spirit 4 01/24/10

John 16:4-11

Pastor: Steve Hart

One of the key roles the Spirit plays is that of prosecuting attorney. Jesus says when the Spirit comes he will “convict the world,” meaning he’ll bring the world to see their guilt before a Holy God and their need for salvation in Jesus. J.I Packer says, “Jesus said that the Spirit would “convict the world” of the sin of not believing in him, of the fact that he was in the right with God the Father (as his welcome back to heaven proved), and of the reality of judgment both here and hereafter (John 16:8-11). This threefold conviction is still God’s means of making sin repulsive and Christ adorable in the eyes of persons who previously loved sin and cared nothing for the divine Savior.” But how?

Holy Spirit 3 01/17/10

John 15:8-16:4

Pastor: Steve Hart

The two primary “fruits” that Jesus wants to produce in his disciples is love for one another and the ongoing ministry of proclaiming the gospel and making disciples. He wants them to be the church! So he sends his Spirit to dwell with them and in them, and by reliance upon the Spirit these disciples will find themselves comforted and empowered for the works of ministry Jesus has prepared for them. This week we’ll focus on the Spirit’s role in making these disciples - and us - bold and winsome witnesses to Jesus. The primary verses we’ll look at are in John 15.26-27.

Holy Spirit 2 01/10/10

John 14:25-31

Pastor: Steve Hart

If we are going to make disciples, we are utterly dependent on the Spirit. We can’t make this happen on our own! And we are unfortunately so dependent on humans that we’ve forgotten the power of the Spirit to work through us. We need to realize that we have everything we need in the Spirit, and stop making excuses for why we can’t teach, lead, or admonish others. Jesus has already equipped you to make disciples, and he is urging you to step out and trust that his Spirit will do the work through you! You already have everything you need, so you have no excuse! Every disciple of Jesus is fully equipped to be a disci- ple maker, regardless of how long you have known Jesus or how much Bible you understand! Do you believe that?

Holy Spirit 1 01/03/10

John 14:12-24

Pastor: Steve Hart

John 14-16 records some of Jesus final words to his disciples before his death. After sharing a meal together and washing the feet of his disciples, Jesus begins to give the disciples instructions on how to be his people after he is gone. He instructs them to love one another radically and sacrificially, and to continue doing the works they’ve seen him doing. The disciples grow increasingly anxious. They are fearful of what it means for them if Jesus is no longer with them. How will they go on loving, serving, and doing his work? In the midst of their anxiety, Jesus speaks these words: “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you... I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper to be with you forever...” Jesus promises “another” will come, who will be Jesus, and yet not be Jesus. Later he says that he and his Father will come to make their home in those who love Jesus. All of this is the work of the Holy Spirit. After Jesus returns to his Father, he sends his Spirit (Acts 1-2).

Ecclesiastes: Life Under the Sun

Ecclesiastes - Advent 3 12/20/09

Ecclesiastes 11:8-12:14

Pastor: Steve Hart

As we finally reach the end of our study in Ecclesiastes, it is a bit surprising to find 2 conclusions to the book. Solomon has his sobering final monologue about the vanity of life under the sun, and then another voice comes in to both commend and critique Solomon's work. This other author reminds us that, while there is profit in all of Solomon's work, he doesn't see everything. "Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man" is solid Biblical teaching on the purpose of life under the sun... but what does it mean to fear God, and how do we do it?

Ecclesiastes - Advent 2 12/13/09

Ecclesiastes 9:1-10

Pastor: Steve Hart

As we continue to bring our study in Ecclesiastes to a close, we are contrasting Solomon's cynicism with true Biblical faith in light of Advent, the coming of Jesus. Solomon's assessment of the human situation is that we are full of evil and delusional, a view that Paul also teaches in Romans 1.18-25, where he says we have not honored or given thanks to God (we are evil) and instead worship idols (we are delusional). How does the coming of Jesus rescue and heal idol worshippers?

Ecclesiastes - Advent 1 12/06/09

Ecclesiastes 7:15-18

Pastor: Steve Hart

As we turn toward Advent, we'll spend the next 3 weeks leading exploring some of the main themes of the book of Ecclesiastes: injustice, death, and vanity. We'll contrast these themes the Incarnation, exploring the difference made when God stepped into our world 2000 years ago.

Ecclesiastes 9: How to be an Idiot, Part 2 11/15/09

Ecclesiastes 8:1

Pastor: Steve Hart

Solomon continues to give practical wisdom for life.

Ecclesiastes 8: How to Be An Idiot, Part 1 11/08/09

Ecclesiastes 7:7-29

Pastor: Steve Hart

Leaving the big, weighty questions of meaning and purpose in the universe, Solomon buckles down to give us some solid wisdom for navigating a world of beauty and brokenness. The subtitle for this week's sermon is "How To Be An Idiot, Part 1."

Ecclesiastes 7 11/01/09

Ecclesiastes 7:23-24

Pastor: Steve Hart

Turning from his despairing search for ultimate meaning in life, Solomon begins to give some practical advice for navigating our broken world. In this message, we discuss what wisdom is, why we need it, and where we can get it.

Ecclesiastes 4 10/04/09

Ecclesiastes 4:4-16

Pastor: Steve Hart

Solomon turns from death and despair to consider human relationships, and leads off with this penetrating insight: at a core level, we are all anti-neighbor. We feel like we are in competition with one another, and constantly trying to prove our worth by outperforming one another. This effects all of our relationships, making real, vulnerable, intimate relationship something beyond our grasp. How can we become the kind of community that overcomes this twisted motivation?

Ecclesiastes 3 09/27/09

Ecclesiastes 3:1-4:3

Pastor: Steve Hart

This week Solomon looks at the transient nature of life. Everything comes and goes, everything has its season and time, and nothing ever stays the same. Change is constant. And as we try to live in a constantly changing world, we find ourselves grasping for control, hoping that something can be made permanent. Solomon says the attempt is futile... How can the gospel bring hope to our futility and set us free from our need for control?

Ecclesiastes 2 09/20/09

Ecclesiastes 2

Pastor: Steve Hart

After Solomon's introduction, he proceeds to take us on a journey into everything "under the sun" - all that we pursue in this short life, desperately trying to make life meaningful. His conclusion is that the whole pursuit is a burden, and he begins to despair. In particular, Solomon looks death in the face and realizes that if death ultimately wins, then everything is ultimately vain.

Ecclesiastes 1 09/13/09

Ecclesiastes 1

Pastor: Steve Hart

Solomon, the wisest, richest, and most influential man to ever live, spent years pursuing the meaning of life. He looked into everything done under the sun, and he has this to report: life under the sun is meaningless toil. His frank look at life under the sun sobers us up, removing our vain illusions about life, and prepares us to hope in what will not disappoint.

Rhythms Of Grace

Rhythms of Grace: Eat 07/26/09

Genesis 1-2

Series: Rhythms Of Grace

Pastor: Steve Hart

This week we look at our third Rhythm, Eat, “We share meals with people outside our immediate family, offering welcome, friendship, and community.” Come listen as Steve shares how God intended for eating to be an act of dependence and worship and means to receive his grace and show his grace.

Rhythms of Grace: Listen 07/19/09

Genesis 2:1-3:17

Series: Rhythms Of Grace

Pastor: Steve Hart

This week we discuss our second rhythm, “We listen to God, rediscovering the gospel in Scripture and being led by God’s Spirit. And we listen well to people around us to hear gospel and needs.” We spend more time in Genesis this week as we look to the story of Adam and Eve and see how listening plays a key role in the relationship between humans and God.

Rhythms of Grace: Bless 07/12/09

Genesis 1-3

Series: Rhythms Of Grace

Pastor: Steve Hart

We’ve spent the last several weeks discussing and learning more about our identity (Family, Missionary, Servant and Learner) in relation to what Christ has done for us. Over the rest of the summer, we’ll be exploring what it looks like to live out this new Identity as a regular, repeated pattern of behavior. Because Christianity is the good news and calls un into a new way of being human together we’ll be exploring 5 practices - what we call “Rhythms” - that help to translate our new Identity into a way of doing everyday life with gospel intentionality. The rhythms are not something that happens on Sunday, but rather something that can only happen in the mundane of everyday life. Come listen as Steve leads us in discussion of our first Gospel Rhythm, “Bless.” The simple conviction that everything God has given us - physically and spiritually - is given as a gift for us to humbly steward. By faith in Jesus Christ, we are blessed to be a blessing! The Rhythm of Bless is our way of living in this grace and extending it to others. As we are more amazed and humbled by what God has done for us, we are increasingly freed to use all that he has given us in order to bless, honor, and serve others. We use our words, our time, our resources and gifts to build others up. We no longer need to hoard these resources, but joyfully live as a people who are truly blessed to be a blessing!

Gospel Partnership

Gospel Partnership: All In Together 06/28/09

Ephesians 4:11-17

Series: Gospel Partnership

Pastor: Steve Hart

This week we focus on our last identity, as Learners. The best example of the learner identity lived out is Jesus. Jesus invited his disciples into a process of learning how to live in his ways and to do his works. They learned to be like him in character (Family), in purpose (Missionaries), and in posture (Servants). As we are called into his Family and sent as his Missionaries, each one of us is in need of being developed as a disciple and at the same time needed as a developer of disciples. Come listen as Steve encourages us to actively be the body of Christ, being built up in love, both in maturity in Christ and in the mission of Christ to make disciples. In order for this to happen, each part of the body - you and I and all of us - must be “working properly.” As we mature and develop ourselves, we take responsibility to mature and develop others.

Gospel Partnership: Do you serve like Jesus? 06/21/09

John 13:1-17

Series: Gospel Partnership

Pastor: Steve Hart

This week we look at our identity of servant. Jesus demonstrates servanthood in John 13. Because serving is an identity issue Jesus can serve in any manner, even a job that was given to the lowliest of servants because he draws his significance from his Father. Where do you find your joy and significance and worth? Come listen as Steve challenges us to evaluate where and why we are serving. If our significance rests in what Christ has done then we will serve just as He did. Whose feet are you washing?

Gospel Partnership: How are you living the Gospel? 06/14/09

Matthew 4:17-25

Series: Gospel Partnership

Pastor: Steve Hart

If the heart of Christianity is the Gospel then what does it mean to respond and follow Jesus with all that you are? What does it mean to live not just with a Gospel identity but with a Gospel purpose? Jesus’ example in Matthew 4:17-25 is one of proclaiming the Gospel, demonstrating the Gospel and gathering a community to himself. Come listen as Steve challenges us to examine our lives and see what our mission is by looking at our conversations, our day planner/check book and the people we are sharing life with. To live life in such a way that our purpose is the Gospel.

Gospel Partnership: Where do you find your identity? 06/07/09

Mark 10:17-31

Series: Gospel Partnership

Pastor: Steve Hart

This week we will look at where we find out identity. As a community we want the center of what we're about, more than anything else to be the gospel. We want everything thing we do and say to be surrounded by what God has done for us in the life death and resurrection of Jesus. In Religion, my identity and self-worth are based on what I can accomplish, on how hard I work, or on how moral I am. Therefore, I look down on others who aren’t as moral or obedient as me. But in the Gospel, my identity and self-worth are based on God’s love for me in Jesus, even while I was his enemy, unable to accomplish or earn his love by my actions. Therefore, I can’t look down on someone different than me because I am no better than they are – and probably worse! This week Steve encourages us to look at what we are building our identity on. To take a step back, look at the example of the rich man from Mark and instead of following his example turn and build our identity on God. In essence give up every other way of finding a self and find it now only in Jesus.

Gospel Partnership: What is the Gospel 05/31/09

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Series: Gospel Partnership

Pastor: Steve Hart

As we begin a new series for the summer we will practice our learner identity and look at what is the gospel, what does it mean to live life according to Jesus and to live life in a community. Steve will define the Gospel as: Jesus Christ, God's promised rescuer and ruler lived our life, died our death, and rose again as the promise of the new creation to bring forgiven sinners together under his gracious reign. Come and listen as Steve encourages us to believe that we don’t ever move past the Gospel. That true Christianity always springs forth out of growing Gospel-centeredness in our lives. This means an ongoing awareness of our sinfulness that leads to deeper humility and also a growing awareness of how amazing grace really is – at the same time!

Chosen and Scattered: A Study in 1 Peter

Standing Firm in Grace 05/17/09

1 Peter 5:6-14

Pastor: Steve Hart

In the conclusion to this powerful letter, Peter urges the scattered but chosen churches to remain faithful to Jesus and to stand firm in the grace he has given them.

A Surprising Mutuality 05/10/09

1 Peter 5:1-5

Pastor: Steve Hart

This week in Peter’s letter he addresses the relationship between the leadership and the rest of the community. Though leaders often have different roles in the church community, the biblical model is that everyone is a sheep of Jesus, and everyone is responsible for Jesus’ disciple-making purposes in the world. The distinction between leaders and the community at large is simply that leaders take the initiative to lead by example as they care for, encourage, and challenge the community to faithful Christian living. As we come to the end of our study in Peter’s letter, our own missional communities will be covenanting around the ways that we will live out our Identity as a Family of Missionary Servants. In order to do this, we need to embrace our fourth Gospel Identity, that of Learner. To be a Learner is to recognize that each of us is a disciple of Jesus called to make disciples of Jesus. We are all - leaders and followers - responsible for the maturity and mission of the church as a whole. Peter addresses both leadership and the community at large with this very emphasis. Come listen as Steve encourages some of us to step up in leadership and the rest of us to submit to leadership.

A Surprising Sacrifice 05/03/09

1 Peter 4:12-19

Pastor: Steve Hart

As we look at Peter’s letter this week, we’ll be focusing again on our Covenant to live out these themes - what we call Gospel Identities - together. Over the last 2 weeks we’ve looked at our Missionary Identity and our Family Identity. This week, in what is really a summary of everything Peter has been saying; we’ll focus specifically on the Servant Identity. To be a follower of Jesus means sacrifice, suffering, and servant hood. Are you arranging your life around the Gospel? Come and listen as Steve guides us through Peter’s letter to learn how we should respond in trial.

A Surprising Community 04/26/09

1 Peter 4:1-11

Pastor: Steve Hart

This week we explore what it means to be a part of a Christian community, to live together in the reality of our Identity as Family, chosen and beloved children of God. Peter begins in chapter 4 right where he left off, speaking of the suffering of Jesus on our behalf. How can we learn to serve other, to draw life from Jesus so that we can give it away? Peter says we ought to “arm ourselves with the same way of thinking,” fully aware that being united to Jesus implies suffering. As we remind each other of our Identity in the gospel, we are helping one another to more fully believe God’s forgiving, accepting, adopting love. We call this “gospeling” one another. Come and listen as Steve encourages us to pattern our lives after Christ.

A Surprising Hope 04/19/09

1 Peter 3:13-22

Pastor: Steve Hart

As we round the bend and begin to head toward the end of this amazing letter, we’ll be using our time to talk practically about how to live the Identities of Family, Missionaries, and Servants together. Peter has woven these three themes together throughout his letter, urging these chosen and scattered exiles to live as God’s Family, sent throughout the Roman Empire to faithfully witness to a suffering and resurrected Messiah, both in deed and in word. In this section Peter challenges Christians to be the Church and to live faithfully for Christ. Peter concludes this section with the same great words of hope and encouragement that he has woven throughout this letter! He recognizes that living for Jesus’ mission involves suffering and sacrifice, so he points us again to Jesus. Jesus died for us. He bled for us. He went all the way down for us, and is now exalted at the right hand of God, with all things subject to him. Because of Jesus’ great victory, we can embrace sacrifice today, knowing that we belong to Jesus and will one day be with him! Come listen and be encouraged by Steve to live our lives so that the world would question our actions.

Easter: Resurrection Hope 04/12/09

Pastor: Steve Hart

This week Steve takes us back in 1 Peter to verses 1:20-21; 1:3-4 and 3:22 to encourage us that the resurrection makes faith possible, hope livable, and obedience delightful. Listen and be encouraged that Christ is Risen!

Praxis: Gospel & Church 04/05/09

1 Peter 3:8-12

Pastor: Steve Hart

Steve picks up from last week continuing with the last of Peter’s three different contexts in which verse 2:16 gets worked out in our lives. So far, we’ve seen how “living as Servants of God” works itself out in the workplace and in the home. Before Peter leaves this subject, he applies it directly to the Christian community and the relationships within the church. Sadly, Christians often forget their Servant Identity in the way they relate to one another, and it is often within the community where the most selfish, self-centered behavior comes out. Peter urges us to live the way of the cross together. Listen as Steve and Russ encourages us to live with “unity of mind”, sympathy for one another, familial love, tender heartedness and humble mindedness towards one another.

Praxis: Gospel & Home 03/29/09

1 Peter 3:1-7

Pastor: Steve Hart

Steve picks up from last week continuing with the second of Peter’s three different contexts in which verse 2:16 gets worked out in our lives. We’ve been given a glorious new Identity in Christ in order that we might give our lives up in humble service of those around us. In this section, Peter applies the same principle to the home, between husband and wife, and particularly applies it to wives living with unbelieving husbands. Peter wants us to see that the husband serves his wife by his leadership, and the wife serves her husband by her gracious submission. In both cases, the spouse’s service is first and foremost to God himself, as His Servant, and then to one another. Come and listen as Steve encourages husbands and wives to outdo each other in honor and service so that Christ can be glorified.

Praxis: Gospel & World 03/15/09

1 Peter 2:18-25

Pastor: Steve Hart

After laying out the basic framework of both abstaining from the passions of the world and engaging in humble service of the world, Peter proceeds to give 3 different contexts in which this gets worked out (praxis). This week we’ll look at how it works in the world, particularly at work. Please listen as Steve challenges us to realize that we don't simply need to live as Jesus lived, thus following a set of rule, but rather what we need is his substitution, we need our Savior. When this is worked into our hearts we can rejoice in all our circumstances, even an "unjust master"

Gospel-Deed People 03/08/09

1 Peter 2:11-17

Pastor: Steve Hart

Our Identity as Servants flows directly from our Identity as Beloved Children of God, his special people. Our chosen status as God’s special people does not remove us from the world to await the return of Jesus. On the contrary, the freedom we have in Jesus allows us to be in the world for the good of the world and yet to remain unstained by the ways of the world. Listen as Steve explains the freedom we can have if we are only willing to accept it as he continues in 1 Peter 1 Peter 2:11-17

Gospel-Proclaiming People 03/01/09

1 Peter 2:4-10

Pastor: Steve Hart

What does it really mean to be "born again"? Steve picks up in 1 Peter 2:4 as Peter continues to build off of what he has been saying about being "born again" through he gospel word, and lays out an incredible vision of the purpose of God in calling us to Himself.

Gospel-Transformed People 02/22/09

1 Peter 1:13-2:3

Pastor: Steve Hart

The degree to which we obey God is a direct reflection of the degree to which the grace of God in Jesus has truly taken root in our hears, filling us with "joy inexpressible and full of glory!". The commands of the New Testament are always proceeded by a "therefore". Listen as Steve explains what the "therefore" is there for.

Gospel-Formed Community 02/15/09

1 Peter 1:3-12

Pastor: Steve Hart

Point number 1: itâ€™s not about you. Point number 2: itâ€™s totally about you. Point number 3: if you get the first 2 points, it totally transforms you. What the heck is Peter talking about and who's he writing to anyway? Listen as Steve breaks down and dialouges about 1 Peter 1:3-12.

Chosen and Scattered 02/08/09

1 Peter 1:1-2

Pastor: Steve Hart

What does it mean to be chosen and scattered by God? Listen as Steve breaks down 1 Peter 1:1-2 in the first of a new series in 1 Peter.

Psalms: Obedience and Desire

Psalm 16: Delighting in God 01/25/09

Psalms 16

Pastor: Steve Hart

The Scriptures teach that the heart is the motivational drive shaft of life. Whatever we treasure, whatever we most highly value, whatever we think most significant will give form to our lives. We'll spend our limited resources pursuing joy in that thing. Therefore, we must learn to ravish our hearts with the excellencies of God in order to come to deeper joy and obedience. Psalm 16 - and many other Psalms - is about how to bring our hearts to delight and rest in God alone.

Psalm 42: Despairing 01/18/09

Psalms 42

Pastor: Nick Dotson

Life with God has seasons of great joy and seasons of great sadness. Though our faith tells us God is always near, our experience and our emotions often tell us otherwise. How do we respond when God seems distant and life seems futile? Listen to the way the psalmist deals with himself in Psalm 42 for some simple and helpful practical ideas.

Psalm 51: Repenting 01/11/09

Psalms 51

Pastor: Steve Hart

Psalm 51 is a prayer of confession, restoration, and rejoicing following David's adultery with Bathsheba and the subsequent murder of her husband. In this Psalm, David shows us a pathway for dealing with sin that leads to both great joy in God's salvation and real heart transformation

Psalm 100: Rejoicing 01/04/09

Psalms 100

Pastor: Nick Dotson

The book of Psalms invites us to think and to feel. God has designed the Psalms both for our instruction in obedience and for the shaping of our emotions and affections. In this intro to our 4 week study on the Psalms, we'll look at 3 key characteristics of the Psalms in general as well as dig deeply into Psalm 100. How can we become the kind of people who not only serve the Lord but do so with joy and gladness?

Advent 2008: Reconnectiong with Jesus

The First Christmas Song 12/14/08

Luke 1:46-55

Series: Advent 2008: Reconnectiong with Jesus

Pastor: Steve Hart

What has Advent been for you? Whatâ€™s your experience been? Has it been refreshing, renewing? Are you reconnecting with Jesus or are you just going through the motions? As we continue in the 3rd week of Advent, Steve Hart talks about the very first Christmas song.

Scott Cooley's Little Life 12/07/08

Hebrews 2:1

Series: Advent 2008: Reconnectiong with Jesus

Pastor: Scott Cooley

When do you know when you need to stop, turn around and go back to your relationship with Christ? How do you reconnect with your relationship? And what happens when you do? What happens around you? Scott Cooley shares some recent life experience and how he's come to reconnect with Christ.

God with Us 11/30/08

Matthew 1:18-25

Series: Advent 2008: Reconnectiong with Jesus

Pastor: Steve Hart

What do you want Advent to be this year? Do you want it to be a time to reconnect with Jesus? When you hear the Gospel, are you shocked? You should be! God brings the transcendent and immanent together. He puts on flesh and comes into our world and lives among us. Come hear the story of Christmas with new ears and be shocked.

Gospel Identity

Gospel Stories - Missional Communities 11/23/08

Series: Gospel Identity

Pastor: Steve Hart

What does it mean, practically to be in the Family of God, to be on Mission, to Serve and to Learn to be Godâ€™s people together? What does this really look like in our Missional Communities? We explore these questions in a dialogue with 3 Missional Community leaders.

Gospel Stories - Learners 11/09/08

Mark 1:14-20

Series: Gospel Identity

Pastor: Steve Hart

When Jesus chooses disciples, he calls them first to himself and to the process of being transformed: "Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men." Jesus is committed to the process of bringing us along as his people. At the same time, he sends us to be disciple-makers, men and women who are helping others to find life in Jesus and to live themselves as his disciples. When we say one of our Gospel Identities is "Learner," we're confessing to be people in the process of being formed into the image of Christ even as we are being used by him to form others.

Gospel Stories - Servants 11/02/08

Mark 9:30-41

Series: Gospel Identity

Pastor: Steve Hart

What does it mean to live in the Way of Jesus, to be in the kingdom of God as a way of life? The upside-down dynamic of the kingdom - the first shall be last - is the way of life for all who come under the leadership of King Jesus. But how do we maintain a servant posture over the long haul?

Gospel Stories - Missionaries 10/26/08

Luke 10:25-37

Series: Gospel Identity

Pastor: Steve Hart

What does it mean to be a Family of Missionaries? In this next sermon in our series on Gospel Identities, we explore the familiar parable of the Good Samaritan to see what it means to be on mission with Jesus.

Gospel Stories - Family 10/19/08

Luke 15

Series: Gospel Identity

Pastor: Steve Hart

What does it mean to be in the Family of God? What might it look like to actually believe that we've been adopted by God through Christ, and form our lives around that reality? In this series on Gospel Identity, we're continuing to explore these questions.

Identity: We are Learners 09/28/08

Ephesians 4:1-16

Series: Gospel Identity

Pastor: Steve Hart

The idea of church attendance is not Biblical. Yes, we should meet together and encourage one another in love and good deeds, remind one another of the gospel, and seek the Lord together. But Biblically speaking, you are the church. Church isn't an event or a building but a people ransomed by Jesus' death and brought into fellowship with God and one another. This Family is then sent into the world to be the body of Jesus, his ambassadors doings his kingdom work. As we do this, the body grows up. To say that we are Learners is to acknowledge that each of us is a disciple of Jesus called to make disciples of Jesus. We need one another to become the body that Jesus wants us to be.

Identity: We are Servants 09/21/08

Mark 10:35-45

Series: Gospel Identity

Pastor: Steve Hart

Our Gospel Identities describe who we are as a result of what God has done in Jesus. Rather than talk about the things we ought to be doing as Christians, this series is about what God has done in Jesus and how that changes our Identity. When we say we are servants, we are acknowledging that Jesus is our ransom, paying the price in his life and death to set us free from our slavery to self, sin, and satan. We have been bought with a price and so we are learning to serve Jesus as we serve one another. Because Jesus has served us, we are free to be his Servants.

Identity: We Are Missionaries 09/14/08

John 20:19-23

Series: Gospel Identity

Pastor: Steve Hart

When we say that one of our core gospel Identities is "We Are Missionaries," we're primarily saying something about God and his work in the world. The Scriptures recount how God has worked in history to bring everything back under his gracious rule in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. In Jesus, he is making all things new. We then, as we place our trust in Jesus, are "new creations" in him - radically called into fellowship with him and with one another. At the very same time, we are "ambassadors" of his kingdom - radically sent into the world to join with God in restoring all things to Him.

Identity: We are Family 09/07/08

Genesis 1:26-28

Series: Gospel Identity

Pastor: Steve Hart

The first of our Gospel Identities is Family. God has always desired a people for his fame and glory in the world. In the beginning, he made Adam and Eve in his image as his people living in his place, and he was their Father. In their desire for autonomy, they destroyed that relationship and sent all of humanity spiraling away from God. In Jesus, God has restored us to himself as his beloved children, and brought us together into a people - His Family. In tonight's message, we dialogue about the implications of being a Family together.

Colossians: Christian Maturity

Supposta-free Christianity 07/20/08

Colossians 2:16-23

Pastor: Steve Hart

Christianity without rules & regulations? Without hypocrisy? Without false spirituality? Is it too good to be true?

Colossians 2.6-15 07/13/08

Colossians 2:6-15

Pastor: Rob Fairbanks

Guest preacher Rob Fairbanks of New Community Church leads us through a challenging passage on how Christians often move away from Jesus.

Colossians 1.24-2.6 07/06/08

Pastor: Nick Dotson

Paul's suffering for Christ and the maturity of the Colossian church gives us a new perspective on suffering.

Colossians 1.15-23 06/29/08

Pastor: Steve Hart

The preeminence of Jesus in Creation and New Creation!

Colossians 1.1-8 06/15/08

Colossians 1:1-8

Pastor: Steve Hart

Paul's letter to the Colossian church is all about Jesus. Paul is writing to a church that feels 2 specific pressures. On one hand, there is pressure to conform to a more culturally acceptable, less exclusive spirituality. On the other hand, there are religious legalists who are pressuring the church to follow Old Testament conventions like circumcision and dietary laws. Paul writes to remind this church that everything they need for spiritual maturity has already been given to them in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. He encourages them to remember and celebrate God's grace to them.

Ruth: Redeeming the Mess

When Life Stays Messy 06/08/08

Proverbs 3:1-8

Pastor: Matthew Green

As we finish the story of Ruth, the question lingers: What about when our messy lives don't wrap up as beautifully as Naomi's? What about when the tragedy and hardship doesn't seem to come to an end, and it seems like God is not good?

Ruth 4.13-22 06/01/08

Ruth 4:13-22

Pastor: Steve Hart

As the story of Ruth comes to a close, the camera pulls back from the love story of Boaz and Ruth and revisits the plight of Naomi. When she left for Moab, she was full of family, future, and hope. When she returned from Moab she was bitter, broken, and empty - and childless. But God has not left her, and in his love for her has orchestrated the marriage of Boaz and Ruth so that they could give birth to a grandson who would refresh her soul. The camera then pulls back even further, and we see that this son, Obed, becomes the father of Jesse, who in turn becomes the father of the great King David!

Ruth 4.1-12 05/25/08

Ruth 4:1-12

Pastor: Steve Hart

Every great love story has obstacles, and the blossoming love of Ruth and Boaz is no exception. Though Boaz is fully intent on marrying Ruth, he is also a man who loves God's law and wants to do things the right way. There is a redeemer who is nearer to Ruth and has the first right of redemption. Fortunately for Boaz and Ruth, this man is a total fool, and Boaz easily moves him out of the way in order to wed Ruth.

Ruth 3.1-18 05/18/08

Ruth 3

Pastor: Steve Hart

Ruth and Boaz live in the perverted and confused time of the Judges, a period of history where Israel was in rebellion against God on a regular basis. How can two people love each other and pursue marriage in a way that is pure and honorable? How do they protect themselves and each other in a day when the path of least resistance is hooking up, sleeping together, shacking up and seeing if it works out? Listen to how Ruth and Boaz navigate these treacherous waters!

Ruth 2.14-23 05/11/08

Ruth 2:14-23

Pastor: Steve Hart

As we reach the midpoint of the book of Ruth, we are privaleged to look in on one of the most beautiful love stories ever written. The story started with tragedy and sin and foolishness, but is now taking a turn for the better as the righteous Boaz steps on to the scene to be a conduit of grace and restoration to Ruth and Naomi.

Ruth 2.1-13 05/04/08

Ruth 2:1-13

Pastor: Steve Hart

At the bottom of the barrel, with nothing to eat and no hope for the future, Ruth sets out from Bethlehem to the fields to glean, sacrficially caring for her bitter mother-in-law and faithfully trusting that God has a plan. Once there, she "happens" to come to the field of a dude named Boaz - a strong, godly, masculine man of high standing in the community. He just happens to be single, and he just happens to come to the field on the day that Ruth is gleaning. Our story turns a corner this week from tragedy to the beginnings of a love story.

Ruth 1.6-22 04/27/08

Ruth 1:6-22

Pastor: Steve Hart

God is at work in the story of Ruth and Naomi in primarily invisible ways. Naomi's life is in shambles and she is bitter with God about it. She believes that God is all powerful, but she is unconvinced about God's goodness, at least in her life at this point. The Providence of God is the main theme of the book of Ruth, a theological concept that brings together God's power and sovereign control over all things with his heart of grace, kindness, and faithful love for his people. As believers in God, we must learn to see our circumstances through the lens of Providence, trusting that even in affliction God has good and redemptive purposes that he is working out.

Ruth 1.1-6 04/20/08

Ruth 1:1-6