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Sun, Sep 18, 2022
Duration: 44 mins 58 secs
Echo chambers tell you what you want to hear (want to hear, want to hear). They reinforce your political leanings, personal convictions, and core beliefs without encouraging critical reflection. The church is not an echo chamber. It is a faith incubator. It gathers people to form them into Christlikeness. Jesus is our focus, model, and great high priest. The author of Hebrews expounds on this theme, calling his readers to a life of faith, love, and hope. Today we talk about faith formation.
Sun, Sep 04, 2022
Duration: 37 mins 18 secs
Paul was in prison. Alone. It wasn't his first time but was bound to be his last time. He had fought his fight and run his race. In his final correspondence with his beloved protege, Timothy, he requests his presence. In the meantime, the Lord stood by him and strengthened him. Even in our loneliest moments, the Lord stands by us. He gives us insight. He empowers us.
Sun, Aug 28, 2022
Passage: John 4:3-42
Duration: 36 mins 30 secs
The woman at the well is iconic. She comes alone in the heat of the day. She has bad blood and a questionable past. And yet, Jesus shows her warmth. He engages in a spiritual conversation that exposes her misplaced wants and misguided worship. He offers her living water. She takes the offer and tells her whole town about it. Her story starts a revival. Actually, Jesus started the revival by showing the kind of warmth he continues to show us today.
Sun, Aug 21, 2022
Duration: 42 mins 21 secs
We all have things about ourselves we hide. Ghosts from our pasts. Wound we want no one to know. Failures we fear define us and will leave us destitute if they come to light. A word that captures these feelings is shame. It's real, painful, and crippling. The bad news is we have a spiritual accuser (Satan), who bullies us with shame. The good news is that God can remove our shame. His grace and forgiveness is a beautiful replacement. Zechariah saw this acted out in a vision with the high priest Joshua.
Sun, Aug 14, 2022
Duration: 37 mins 55 secs
Pain is real and it warps our sense of reality. It can steal our joy, ruin our relationships, and upset our tidy theology. Pain can also push us toward God as we cry to him in desperation. This was Hannah's story, filled with heartache over her infertility. She wept, prayed, and made a vow to God. He showed up, answered her petition, and soothed her ailing soul. We, too, pine for his healing presence in our pain.
Sun, Aug 07, 2022
Duration: 44 mins 13 secs
Moses met God. He was going about his shepherding duties, when he encountered God in the far side of the desert. He drew close to a burning bush and God spoke. He shared with Moses his plan to rescue Israel and assured him he was the man for the job. Sadly, Moses deflected and deferred. Facing God forced him to face his false self. The same thing happens with us: divine encounters expose our self-deception.
Sun, Jul 31, 2022
Duration: 38 mins 43 secs
Testimony is what we say when we see God working. The Spirit does it. Jesus's first followers did it. We do it too. Part of the beauty of testimony is that it requires no special training, degree, or certification. You see; you speak. Of course, to talk about what you see God doing, first you have to pay attention. So, are you watching?
Sun, Jul 24, 2022
Duration: 39 mins 38 secs
Work can be grueling, laborious, and vain. We feed the machine. We follow routine. Day after day, we complete our tasks, only to do them again the next day. Work, though, is not worthless. God gives it to us for sustenance and significance. We work for him. Day after day, we undertake our tasks with the hope of the resurrection undergirding us.
Sun, Jul 17, 2022
Passage: John 3:16 & John 1:12
Duration: 36 mins 20 secs
This verse does not need a title. It shows up on banners, billboards, and signs at sporting events. It speaks of God's love, his gracious invitation to everlasting life, secured through the gift of his Son. It hinges on trust in him. He loves; we trust: this leads to flourishing.
Sun, Jul 10, 2022
Duration: 41 mins 7 secs
Our days can feel long; our struggles, crushing. The speed of change, noise of media, pull of technology, and political angst wears us out. We need rest, and Jesus extends it to us. However, we must not confuse Christ's invitation with a nap, good night of sleep, or two week vacation. Jesus offers more than a break; he calls us to walk with him, rely on him, and learn from him. His rest truly rejuvenates.
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