We are a unique church attempting to engage our culture without embracing it and attempting to speak to our culture without boycotting it. Toward that end, we are exploring the Christmas story through the eyes of popular Christmas movies. You’re sure to be surprised at what we find. …
Bottle or Fork
When it comes to your faith, are you an infant or a teacher? The writer of Hebrews leaves no room for anything in-between: We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you …
f.i.g.h.t.
Few people enjoy conflict, and those who do are twisted! Seriously, personal conflict is one of the most damaging things in our world. From Cain and Abel to Republicans and Democrats to husbands and wives, nothing gets done when we are fighting. But what if there were a way to fight that fought …
How to Be Rich
Because we don’t feel rich, we don’t know if we are rich, so we waste a lot of energy trying to get rich. There’s an interesting passage in the Bible about that, and it comes in two parts in 1 Timothy 6. See, we live in a world that seems obsessed with getting rich and spending …
Great News II (Romans)
In the previous series called Great News, we worked through the book of Mark to consider the story of the great news of Jesus, however, Mark was very clear knowing the story isn’t enough. People need to commit their lives to Jesus and the great news about him. Of course, Mark never got into …
Special Guest Gary Rohrmayer
On June 3, we were honored to have as our special guest speaker Gary Rohrmayer, president of Converge MidAmerica. …
Great News (Mark)
Only about 20 years after Jesus’ ministry on earth, a man named Mark became convinced that it was time to write out the story of Jesus so that everyone would know it as well as he did. He likely was present for many of the events he records even though he wasn’t an eyewitness to all of …
One Sunday
Peter is one of the most incredible stories. He defends Jesus, denies Jesus, runs to the tomb, and jumps out of the boat whereupon Jesus speaks words of restoration and healing to him. One of the saddest stories of all time is that of Judas. He made a poor choice, was taken captive by Satan and …
Milestones
By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” — Hebrews 11:17-18 The track record of …
Born This Way
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. — Genesis 1:27 Boys and girls. The differences associated with gender are part of the original design of the world. When God created humanity to represent him, he chose to make us …
Simplify
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. — Matthew 6:33 There’s an order to life. There is an inherent priority to the way the world has been designed. Our problem is that we try to live by our own priorities and then wonder …
He Came
God sent his son at the right time in the right way, and he came to us to be for us everything we needed. He came to be Prophet, Priest, Son, Savior, and King. He came to be everything we need. Our Christmas 2011 series covers the deepest significance of who Jesus is. …
DOGMA
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect — 1 Peter 3:15 Do you know what you believe? Do you know what the Bible teaches? Do you believe …
momentum
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. — Galatians 6:7 Every moment has momentum. It is the inertia that makes us want to do what we’ve always done, but it is also the potential to change directions. One tiny decision today WILL SURELY pick up momentum over …
BAM!
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and …
Break Out (Galatians)
The Apostle Paul broke out of partial obscurity with a brief but intense letter to the church in Galatia. In this letter, he is passionate, angry, intense, and harsh because he is so shocked that people who discovered the truth of God’s Grace through Jesus would turn away from it. He is …