The Spirit of Adoption – July 20, 2014

“The Spirit of Adoption” Text: Romans 8:12-25 What does it mean to call God “Abba, father”? Perhaps more importantly, what does it mean to recognize that we’ve been adopted–and that adoption comes with certain obligations and expectations? Pastor Jon continues our look at Paul’s letter to the Romans, considering the ways in which we may…

Life in the Spirit – July 13, 2014

“Life in the Spirit” Text: Romans 8:1-11; Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 A fresh look at the Parable of the Sower informs our study in Romans chapter 8. What if we’ve been so satisfied with “there is no condemnation” that we miss out on the new and abundant life in Christ right now? Pastor Jon suggests some…

July 6, 2014 – An Easy Yoke

“An Easy Yoke” Text: Romans 7:12-25a Pastor Jon continues our journey through the book of Romans with a look at this often-misinterpreted text. While Paul is identifying the struggle of sin, he is not giving us permission to live in the struggle, nor is he suggesting that “wretchedness” is the normal condition of the Christian.…

Alive in Christ – June 22, 2014

“Alive in Christ” Text: Romans 5:20-6:11 In Romans 6, Paul calls us to be dead to ourselves, and to come alive in Christ. This truth shapes the way we live, the ways we relate to one another, the ways we utilize money, and even our wishes and dreams for our lives.  When we get Jesus…

Trinity Sunday: Speechless – June 18, 2014

“Trinity Sunday: Speechless” Text: Matthew 28:16-20 On this Trinity Sunday, we are invited to contemplate the mystery of Holy Trinity, not as a doctrine to be explained, but as a revelation to be experienced. While Scripture serves as a reliable pointer, and the ancient creeds attempt to describe the revelation, we are truly caught speechless…

Pentecost: A Holy Interruption – June 8, 2014

“Pentecost: A Holy Interruption” Text: Numbers 11:24-30; Acts 2:1-21 Pastor Jon explores several of the ways in which God interrupts our lives: to call us from sin, to bring us back where we need to be, to interrupt our religious routines, and to put us to use in the Kingdom of God. As we celebrate…

How Then Shall We Live? – June 1, 2014

How Then Shall We Live? Text:  Peter 3:8-9; 4:7-11; 5:6-11 We conclude our series on First Peter with a sequence of practical instructions on holy living. Now that we have this living hope, having heard the call to Christlike holiness, having tasted that God is good; we live into the good life, taking heart despite…

Take Heart – May 25, 2014

Take Heart Text: I Peter 3:13-17; 4:12-19; John 16:33 As we hear stories of religious persecution around the world, we are reminded of some of the “famous last words” of Jesus – “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world.”  Pastor Jon shares some modern stories of martyrs,…

The Good Life – May 18, 2014

The Good Life – May 18, 2014 Text: I Peter 2:11-12, 20-25 What does the good life mean? The good life means that we are safe, that we are living into our salvation, that while we may be strangers and aliens in the world around us, we are confident of our citizenship in a greater…