In just 14 verses, Psalm 19 speaks to the glory of God, the power of God's law, and our response to God's goodness and love. To cover the powerful depth of this Psalm, we heard from Mark Cruz, Kayla Canfield, and Josiah Barkley as they each explore one of these themes.
Read MoreIn Psalm 18, we hear David crying out to God from the midst of distress. Through this prayer, we can take both comfort and challenge. Comfort in knowing that we can rest in God's presence, but the challenge to continually pursue that presence throughout our lives. Adam Barnett explores Psalm 18 in week 3 of our summer-long study of the Psalms.
Read MoreOur culture is one that is both pride based and shame based. Most of the time we are either elevating ourselves as God or thinking of ourselves as nothing. Psalm 8 speaks to both ends of that spectrum. In Week 2 of our study of the Psalms, Dave Brown unpacks this chapter and helps us to see that knowing our true place in God's presence is essential in seeing through the shame and pride based lies of the enemy.
Read MoreThe book of Psalms is a collection of powerful prayers, songs, and praises. It begins with a call to delight ourselves in God's law—His instruction. And it shows the divergent path we can take if we don't heed this call. Adam Barnett opens our summer-long study of Psalms by exploring these two possible directions of our lives and challenging us to seek that delight in God's word this summer.
Read MoreWe have instruction directly from Jesus, and from the example of the early church, that caring for the poor is our responsibility. Despite this clear instruction, the majority of people feel that those in poverty are solely responsible for themselves, and less than 10% feel any personal responsibility at all. Adam Barnett wraps up our series with a reminder of the role we are called to fill as followers of Jesus.
Read MoreThere are many movies that begin at the end of the story, and then go back to tell the story of how it got there. In week 3 of Let Justice Roll Down, guest preacher Josef Rasheed examines how Revelation 7:9–10 describes a community of equality and then challenges us to see that this community doesn't start in heaven, but right here on earth with us.
Read MoreIn the early church, the care of widows and orphans was designated to the church. In the centuries that have passed, that has not changed. We are called to care for those vulnerable and be the hands and feet of Christ. This is how we are to "do justice". In week 2 of Let Justice Roll Down, Adam Barnett shares from the book of James and expands on what caring for the widow and the orphan can look like.
Read MoreIn the book of Micah, we find the prophet burdened for the sins of Israel and seeking God's favor and forgiveness. What he receives from God is the simple word that what the Lord requires is that we act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him. Dave Brown explores this passage and shares the context of the time in which it was written to illuminate what happens when we sacrifice justice on the altar of safety, security, and peace.
Read MoreIn the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the tomb, we are introduced to the doctrine of Resurrection when Jesus says, "I Am the Resurrection and the Life." At His own tomb, Jesus embodied that doctrine, defeating death itself in order to raise us to life in Him. Adam Barnett concludes our "I Am" series on Easter Sunday by sharing the joyful news that Jesus is our King.
Read MoreThere is so much power and deeper meaning behind Jesus' statement "I Am the Good Shepherd." It was intended to correct and challenge the religious elite of that time; and to comfort and encourage Jesus' followers then and today. We are sheep, and we have a Good Shepherd in Jesus. Dave Brown explores this deep and powerful meaning in week 4 of our I Am series.
Read MoreWhen Jesus described Himself as the door to the sheep pen, He didn't just mean that He is the way in. He was trying to communicated a deeper and more powerful statement of peace and safety. Jesus' statement of "I Am the Door" is an invitation to us to enter in and rest. Wopsle shares this deeper meaning and encourages us to accept that invitation in week 3 of I Am.
Read MoreJesus was not just simply using a convenient metaphor when he said, "I am the Vine". His choice was very intentional because of the relationship the branches hold to the vine. Leanne Benton encourages us to truly abide in Jesus in week 2 of I Am.
Read MoreJesus was very intentional not only with what he said, but also to whom he said it. In John 8:12, Jesus makes the powerful statement, "I am the Light of the World." Spoken to a group of Pharisees, Jesus was making a statement of divinity and a statement claiming several key truths. Adam Barnett kicks off our series "I Am" by unpacking that statement and exploring those claims.
Read MoreFellowship often gets conflated with friendship. But they are not synonymous. True fellowship is much deeper and intentional. To conclude our series, Dave Brown shares that difference and challenges us to truly be in fellowship as a church and as the body of Christ.
Read MoreThe mission Jesus gives us in Acts 1:8 was not contingent upon us accepting the assignment. To follow Jesus is to participate in His mission on earth and it is one of vital importance. In week 3, Adam Barnett challenges us to take one more step into the mission of Christ and invited Keith Wheeler, a man who has literally walked with Jesus and carried the cross over 26,000 miles, to share his story with us.
Read MoreWe are challenged to take one more step into reconciliation. But not just one type of reconciliation. We had the chance to hear from three amazing teachers in one Sunday as Mark Cruz shared about racial reconciliation, Daniel Bunn looked at relational and familial reconciliation, and Dave Brown pointed us toward the love of God and His Spiritual reconciliation.
Read MoreFasting is not simply the giving up of something; it's giving that thing up in order to achieve a greater spiritual goal. The reasons we are called to fast are intended to bring us closer to God and bring us more in line with His mission. In week one of our series, Adam Barnett challenges us to take One More Step into fasting.
Read MoreWhen we picture hearing God speak, we often think of a powerful, audible experience similar to Moses and the burning bush. But the powerful, audible, voice of God is not the only way He speaks, and is actually the rarest of ways we hear Him. To conclude our House of Prayer series, Dave Brown reminds us of this fact and encourages us to slow down and listen for God's voice in multiple ways.
Read MoreWe are called to bring all things to God in prayer and leave them there. But what happens when we don't get an answer? And why aren't they answered? Adam Barnett explores these questions and gets at the heart of unanswered prayers in week 4 of House of Prayer.
Read MoreThe direction in 1 Thessalonians to "Pray without ceasing." is not a call to walk around 24/7 audibly praying to the exclusion of all else. Rather, it's a call to be ceaselessly devoted to prayer and having an attitude of prayer. Adam Barnett continues our House of Prayer series by reminding us of this call to devotion.
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