Jesus names it in the Sermon on Mount, loving people who love us is not hard. Yet we are not just called to love those who are like us, or who love us. We are called to bring God’s love to those who God places in our lives.
May 15
Sunday February 4: I Love My Church “Real Life ” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Helping someone be self-sufficient is a goal that parents aim for as their children age. We want our kids to be able to care for themselves and not need to lean on us for everything. Yet scripture makes clear that we are designed for relationship, for leaning on each other, for trusting and loving others.
Sunday January 28: “Real Relationships: Sacrificial” John 15:9-17
Today we start our vision series looking at what it means to be radical in love. Jesus paints a picture in John 15 of radical love being sacrificial, placing others and their needs before our own.
Sunday January 21: “Accountable” Hebrews 10:19-25
They say many things are contagious in a good way. Scripture reminds us that love is one of those. That the way we love, serve, and care for each other can be and should be contagious. That a church should be a community of people working hard to outdo one another in good towards one another.
Sunday January 14: “Radical In Love” John 15:9-17
Today we start our vision series looking at what it means to be radical in love. Jesus paints a picture in John 15 of radical love being sacrificial, placing others and their needs before our own.
Sunday January 7: “Grow In 2024” Jeremiah 29:1-14
As we start a new year it is natural to reflect on 2023, and look ahead towards our hopes and dreams for 2024. We will look at Jeremiah 29 and reflect on what growing in 2024 can look like no matter how you are starting the year.
Sunday December 31: “The Church In Acts” Acts 2:42-47
Luke’s description of the Church in Acts is 2,000 years old. That said, the model for a Christian community Luke lays out in this short passage is just as relevant today as it was so long ago. If the Church wants to live out the call as a community of believers, then it ought to examine Luke’s words in Acts 2:42-47.
Sunday December 24 Christmas Eve: “In Awe of Christ,” Luke 1:46-55
In this season we reflect on the joy Christ brings, and we remain in awe of how our King of kings took on flesh and became our savior. But our awe is not just for a season. Every day we can point to the beauty and majesty of the Gospel.
Sunday December 24: What does it mean for us today that Jesus Was Human? Luke 2:1-14
In Jesus’ arrival, God communicates much about Jesus’ coming ministry, and the path to save humanity. The invitation to redemption would be extended far and wide, and God’s plan to reconcile with his people would be direct, loving, and seek to invite those in who had typically been overlooked.
Sunday December 17: What does it mean for the people of that day that Jesus Became Human? Isaiah 9:2-7 & Isaiah 42:1-4
For many years the people of Israel prayed for a savior who would draw them back towards God, and restore their nation. They studied prophecy about this coming savior so that they would be able to know when he comes, and celebrate his arrival. And yet, Jesus comes into the world without notice, leads three years of ministry, mostly without notice from the very people studying so they would not miss him.
Sunday December 10: What does it mean to Jesus that “He Is Human”? Luke 2:41-52 & Phil.2:5-11
We only have a few places we hear about Jesus before he was an adult. Even from a young age we see that Jesus was fully human, and deeply loved God the Father. Like all of us Jesus had to grow and mature into who God created Him to be.
Sunday December 3: Why does it matter that “Jesus Became Human?” John 1:1-14
John starts his gospel by telling us that the word became flesh and dwelt among us. Of all the ways Jesus could have entered into this world, it matters that Jesus became a human. His arrival tells us about his mission and purpose.
Sunday November 26: 1 John 5 “What You Were Made For”
As John closes out his first letter, he wants to drive home just a few things. First, loving connection to Jesus Christ is the foundation that everything else rests on. Second, overflowing from that relationship, we are called to be a blessing to the world in a way that overcomes the challenges, struggles and burdens that life sends our way.
Sunday November 19: 1 John 4:7-21 “Love Over Fear”
1 Corinthians 13 is often quoted at weddings and begins by simply saying love is….The second part of 1 John 4 has as much or more to say about what God means when we hear God is love, and that we are to love one another.
Sunday November 12: 1 John 4:1-6 “How To Make Sense Of It All”
Chapter 4 of 1 John begins by looking at how to discern different perspectives and opinions. How do you discern various people and teachings based on scripture and based on who God is.
Sunday November 5: 1 John 3:11-24 “Check your Heart”
As we continue to look at what life together as Christians looks like, we lean into the posture of our hearts. What we say, how we say it, and what is behind our actions can be just as important as what we say and do. Jesus describes it by saying the words of our mouth is the overflow of our hearts. What is overflowing from your heart?
Sunday October 29: 1 John 3:1-10 “Change is Hard”
Jesus says that all who believe in Him are a new creation. 1 John 3 wades into what new that Jesus is talking about in our lives. 1 John invites us into a life long process of growing in our faith and in the likeness of our lives to Christ.
Sunday October 22: 1 John 2:15-27 “Stay the Course”
Somedays life is just hard. The believers hearing 1 John were given a reminder that their faith in Jesus is meant to be a foundation that they can lean on, trust in, and stand on no matter what life sends their way. That learning about Jesus and growing in their faith is wonderful and central, but not to fall into a trap of thinking that their faith rests in their head, but instead rests in the Holy Spirit’s work in their lives.