True confidence, righteousness, and belonging do not come from human achievements, heritage, or adherence to the Law (external works), but solely through faith in Jesus Christ.

We will never fully agree with every person we meet but we should seek to emulate Christ in the midst of our disagreements. It's more than just trying not to be arrogant, but it's about embracing humility like Christ did.

God is rich in mercy, even if we don’t want to see people receive it. The story of Jonah is as much about our reaction to judgment as it is about Jonah himself. We are left with more questions than answers and that’s difficult to process.

The Body of Christ is a vast array of experiences and traditions. There is very little agreement on how we practice our faith and as such we should be careful not to use our ideas of what is and isn’t acceptable to judge other believers for how they practice their own faith. We have been baptized into one body with one head, Jesus Christ. Our American ideas of autonomy don’t really apply, and as such, we need to treat our differences with a heavy dose of grace.

What do we do when we have a fallout with someone? Especially when it’s about theological or spiritual issues? Matthew 18 outlines a process for reconciliation that may seem to have a harsh ending if it’s carried out all the way, but the truth is that the Gospel is for everyone, even gentiles and tax collectors.

In this final message in our journey through the Psalms of Ascent we talk about blessing the Lord. What does it mean and how can we live a life that pleases God. Thanks for listening!

One of the shortest of the Psalms of Ascent has a lot to say about the goodness of unity.

This psalm of ascent reminded its singers of the importance of the great city of Jerusalem, how David had built it up, collected power and influence, and sought to make Yahweh’s name great among the nations. In their original worldview, Zion was the most important place in the universe. However, Zion ultimately pointed forward to Jesus. His death and resurrection provide salvation through repentance. Now, through the Holy Spirit, God’s eternal dwelling place is in us.