Where we left off in 1 John, the churches were warned of false teachers, called antichrists, who were seeking to deceive everyone about the true identity of Jesus. Now, the old apostle tells the church to become what they already are. Having already been declared a child of God by faith in Christ, now the church is to put into practice the righteousness that results from faith. Twist: practicing righteousness may not be what you think it is. Righteous living is relational and not about an individual moral performance.

-------------------------------------------

Connect with us on Social Media ⁠

Website⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠Threads⁠ | ⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠Vimeo⁠

-------------------------------------------

Download our App

⁠Apple App Store⁠ | ⁠Google Play Store⁠

This passage brings us to the first time that Jesus’ own disciples identify Him as the Messiah, and a controversial passage about the nature of the church. I’m excited to dig in with you. Peter is identified as a key leader, the rock on whom the church would be built. We will also see the costly call to discipleship that Jesus extended then and extends to all of us now. It is not easy or comfortable to follow Christ. It’s a hard path, but it’s worth it.

-------------------------------------------

Connect with us on Social Media ⁠

Website⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠Threads⁠ | ⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠Vimeo⁠

-------------------------------------------

Download our App

⁠Apple App Store⁠ | ⁠Google Play Store⁠

When we left off, Jesus and his disciples were in Gentile territory and we saw the grace of God in the Kingdom of Heaven through the Messiah extend even to the ancient enemies of Israel. As chapter 16 begins, Jesus headed back into the region of Galilee where he was immediately confronted by the religious leaders and teachers, who were still demanding signs of God’s power. It is just more evidence of the Upside-Down Kingdom, that was missed by those who ought to have seen it most clearly, but seen and embraced by the least likely. We will also see the first time that Jesus’ own disciples identify Him as the Messiah, and a controversial passage about the nature of the church.

-------------------------------------------

Connect with us on Social Media ⁠

Website⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠Threads⁠ | ⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠Vimeo⁠

-------------------------------------------

Download our App

⁠Apple App Store⁠ | ⁠Google Play Store⁠

This week we will be returning to our intermittent study of John's First Letter. Although it is a sweet and personal expression of his love, it is also an urgent warning. He is sounding the alarm. They are in danger, grave danger.
John says he is writing ‘about those who are trying to deceive you.’ He says we are living in the last hour, and in the last hour, false teaching is a recurring pattern within the Christian community. It creates division, leads to opposition, and it results in fear and doubt.
How do we remain unmoveable in the face of opposition, fear and doubt?
John gives the assurance that they already know the truth; therefore, all they need to do is abide in it. Feel free to read 1 John 2:17-28 and come ready on Sunday. We will study together how abiding in the truth and abiding in fellowship with the Holy Spirit will guard us against spiritual deception.

-------------------------------------------

Connect with us on Social Media ⁠

Website⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠Threads⁠ | ⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠Vimeo⁠

-------------------------------------------

Download our App

⁠Apple App Store⁠ | ⁠Google Play Store⁠

After repeated attempts to get some time away and alone, Jesus left the region of Galilee and headed northwest into the region of Tyre and Sidon. Even in Gentile territory, though, He was recognized and people came to Him in need. Our author, Matthew, shows a clear contrast in this chapter between the responses of the religious leaders, Pharisees and Scribes, and the Gentiles. While the religious leaders have every tool and all the information available to them as God’s covenant people, they consistently missed him. Meanwhile, people who had no apparent reason to know who He is saw it all clearly. There is a lot for us to learn about faith in this passage. When we get past religious expectations, what is it that is the real stuff of faith? What can we watch in our own hearts to make sure that we have eyes to see God’s work and ears to hear His voice?

-------------------------------------------

Connect with us on Social Media ⁠

Website⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠Threads⁠ | ⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠Vimeo⁠

-------------------------------------------

Download our App

⁠Apple App Store⁠ | ⁠Google Play Store⁠

In our passage for Sunday, Jesus has yet another confrontation with the Pharisees and Scribes. This time it is over whether, or how, his disciples washed their hands. It led Jesus to bring stark clarity to the difference between God’s commands and man-made rules, and to clarify what it is that defiles us. It’s important for us as we work to follow Christ together. There are lots of religious expectations that people have that may or may not be actually rooted in Scripture. Depending on where you grew up, or how you grew up, those can shift and change, be familiar or totally foreign. On Sunday we will work to discern the difference between holiness and self-made religion.

-------------------------------------------

Connect with us on Social Media ⁠

| ⁠⁠Website⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠Threads⁠ | ⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠Vimeo⁠

-------------------------------------------

Download our App

⁠Apple App Store⁠ | ⁠Google Play Store⁠

Matthew 14:22-36 gives us the account of Jesus walking on the stormy waters of the Sea of Galilee. While Matthew, Mark, and John all include an account of this event, only Matthew includes the detail of Peter asking Jesus to call him out to walk on the water as well. Peter climbed out of the boat, a huge act of courage, and walked toward Jesus, but got scared when he saw the storm and the waves. This is a fun story that has a lot to say to us about the nature of faith and doubt, the fear we face in suffering, and the hope we have in Jesus. I’m excited to jump into it together.

-------------------------------------------

Connect with us on Social Media ⁠

Website⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠Threads⁠ | ⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠Vimeo⁠

-------------------------------------------

Download our App

⁠Apple App Store⁠ | ⁠Google Play Store⁠

This week I am going to preach on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In some ways, that’s what I do every week, and if I get away from it, I ought to look for a new job. But this is a Sunday to especially highlight the resurrection. I will work to help us consider why the resurrection matters, why it’s important that it was a bodily, physical resurrection, and what it means for us. We will look into the views on resurrection in the world at the time of Christ and the importance of the historic moment. I am also eager to preach on the future hope of resurrection and how it is different than most Christians in the West think about heaven and hell. Finally, we will see that the resurrection is not just something we think about, reflect on, and remember, but to follow Jesus is to enter into resurrection life now.

-------------------------------------------

Connect with us on Social Media ⁠

Website⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠Threads⁠ | ⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠Vimeo⁠

-------------------------------------------

Download our App

⁠Apple App Store⁠ | ⁠Google Play Store⁠