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  • For the Orphan and Widow

    For the Orphan and Widow
    2026/02/02
    James 1:26-27 - Those whose stability is impacted by the dissolution of their families are consistently included among the groups that God has special concern for. In fact, Psalm 68 describes God as "Father of the fatherless and protector of widows." So it makes perfect sense that God's new covenant family, the church, is meant to be a place where these same groups are cared for and advocated for. In this sermon, we consider what it might look like for us to be a church that does justice for the orphan and widow, which James tells us is a crucial aspect of "pure and undefiled" religion before God. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 4 of our series "Images and Neighbors, Every One"] Questions for reflection: 1) Why do you think James highlights "visiting orphans and widows in their affliction" as one of his 3 key markers of "pure religion"? 2) Why did the fracturing of family make certain people especially vulnerable in the ancient world? How does it do the same today? 3) What groups today sit adjacent to "orphans and widows" in our culture? 4) How does this command relate to the New Testament conception of the church as a family? 5) How might you personally be involved in the care of orphans, widows, and related groups? 6) How does the spiritual adoption that Jesus offers us all relate to this command?
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    34 分
  • For the Sojourner

    For the Sojourner
    2026/01/26
    Colossians 3:8-14 - The Bible often speaks of four especially vulnerable groups of people that God's people are to make sure don't lose out on the justice they are owed. In this message, we consider the first group: the sojourner (or the immigrant). In considering the repeated calls to make sure that sojourners are shown compassion, fairness, and spiritual brotherhood, we are reminded of the ways in which both we ourselves and our savior Jesus have become strangers in strange lands. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 3 of our series "Images and Neighbors, Every One"] Questions for reflection: 1) What are "sojourners" and why were they repeatedly listed among the most vulnerable groups worthy of extra concern? 2) How would you summarize the Old Testament's expectations for how the nation of Israel was to treat foreigners? 3) How does that same heart get expressed in the very different New Testament context? 4) Brainstorm together some ideas for doing justice for the sojourner across our 3 categories: serving, giving, and advocating. 5) What does Colossians 3:8-14 invite us to do with regard to our national or ethnic divisions? 6) In Matthew 25, Jesus identifies closely with the sojourner. How were His incarnation and even His crucifixion on our behalf related to this idea?
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    37 分
  • Doing Justice

    Doing Justice
    2026/01/19
    Micah 6:6-8 - "How should someone approach God?" is one of the most important questions a person can ask. The Christian gospel contends that God has graciously first approached His people in the person and work of Jesus Christ--God with us. But to walk in intimacy with God, we are called to be conduits of the heart of God to others around us through what the prophet Micah calls "doing justice." In this sermon, we consider some basic principles for doing justice with a sacrificial heart, both responsively and proactively. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 2 of our series "Images and Neighbors, Every One"] Questions for reflection: 1) This passage from Micah first outlines some wrong answers to the question "With what shall I come before the Lord?" What does this make clear about how not to approach God? 2) How would you define "doing justice"? What are some of the most important aspects? 3) Doing justice can involve time, treasure, and talents or serving, financially giving, and advocacy. Why is "doing justice' not reducible to just one of these activities? 4) Discuss the idea of planning for both responsive/reactive justice work and proactive/strategic justice work. 5) Why is a loving heart an indispensable part of this? 6) What is the connection between the grace of Christ toward us and our doing justice toward others?
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    34 分
  • The Good News of a Just and Compassionate Messiah

    The Good News of a Just and Compassionate Messiah
    2026/01/12
    Luke 4:16-21 - We are beginning a 5-week examination of God’s demand for His people to be about justice and compassion, just as He is. We begin with the words Jesus used to announce the character of His public ministry: words that contain the heart of God, the example of Jesus, and a call to all of His disciples. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 1 of our series “Images and Neighbors, Every One: A Brief Theology of Justice and Compassion”] Questions for reflection: 1) How would you answer the question: "What did Jesus come to do?" 2) Why should we take this passage in Luke 4 as especially important for understanding Jesus's overall mission? 3) What all did Jesus say that He came to do in Luke 4:18-19? 4) What is the relationship between physical needs and spiritual needs in Jesus's words here? What is the relationship between them in general for Jesus? 5) How did Jesus actually put these words into practice over the course of His ministry? 6) How is this passage a reminder of what Jesus first did for us spiritually? How might that motivate us to become people of justice and compassion toward our neighbors?
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    39 分
  • Tell Your Story

    Tell Your Story
    2025/12/29
    1 Peter 3:15 - In this short verse, Peter challenges his readers to be "prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you." It's a call to spend the time needed to sort out how our own stories intersect with the gospel of Jesus, or, put another way, to prepare our own spiritual testimonies. It turns out, our stories are an indispensable part of boldly going to our neighbors in word and witness. In this message, Cameron also shared a practical framework for writing a testimony ("before, how, after, now") and challenged our whole church community to spend the month of January brainstorming, refining, writing, and sharing each of our stories with someone else. You have a story and it's both meaningful and powerful--let's get ready to tell it! A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 4 of our series "Confidently Be, Boldly Go: On the Dance of Family Formation and Neighbor Witness"]
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    42 分
  • God with Us

    God with Us
    2025/12/22
    Ezekiel 37:24-28 - The prophet Ezekiel prophesied from exile in Babylon about both the reasons for the judgment God's people were experiencing as well as the very real hope of what God would do among Israel, the nations, and the whole creation. In this passage, we get another prophecy about the Messiah, this time connected to a new covenant God would make with His people and a related promise to be present with them forevermore. And although the name "Immanuel" is not in this passage, the idea of "God with us" very much is--a promise that Jesus would fulfill in stages through His incarnation, sending of the Holy Spirit, and eventual return. We conclude Advent 2025 reflecting on the God who is truly with us, even in this dark in-between. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 4 of our series "Advent in the Prophets"]
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    34 分
  • A Messiah from Little Bethlehem

    A Messiah from Little Bethlehem
    2025/12/15
    Micah 5:1-6 - The prophet Micah prophesied about both God's impending judgment through rival nations AND the anointed king (messiah) who would come and shepherd God's people. In this passage we learn several things about what the Messiah would be like, including the surprisingly humble place of his birth. As we encounter the Messiah as Jesus Christ in the New Testament, we learn that that particular surprise wasn't the half of it. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 3 of our series "Advent in the Prophets"]
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    30 分
  • The Son of Man Across Time

    The Son of Man Across Time
    2025/12/08
    Daniel 7:9-14 - The Old Testament prophet Daniel's vision of a mysterious figure like a "son of man" approaching "the ancient of days" was shrouded in mystery for centuries--until Jesus came and claimed that title for Himself. In considering some of the connections between Daniel, the gospels, and Revelation, we learn deep truths about the surprising nature of God as Father, Son, and Spirit AND about what it will be like when the Son of Man returns. A sermon by Brette Way. [Part 2 of our series "Advent in the Prophets"]
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    30 分