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Sermon Series: The Christ

1/7 - 2/19/2023

What is it about Jesus that is unique? This series helps us as followers of Jesus to better understand the person of Jesus (in the Trinity) and his singular importance in the world and in our daily lives. A proper understanding of Jesus is what theologians call a “Christology.” The old hymns teach us to lift high the cross. When we keep Jesus elevated, the Christian faith makes sense, even in its mystery and lament. But when we allow Jesus to be lowered, all sorts of sanctimony and social unrest take its place in the thrones of our hearts and our communities.

This series uses images established in Scripture to explore important images that illuminate the person of Jesus Christ. Each of these are declarations by and about Jesus. Our goal is that by better understanding who Jesus is, we may rightly place him high on the thrones of our lives, become better followers, and discover life in abundance.

Messages

2/18 - 2/19/2023 (February 18 & 19) | The Author and Finisher of Our Faith

Jesus is more than a distant ruler or authority in a castle. Authority is authorship. To whomever you give authority in your life, you give the ability to write your life’s story. Hebrews is clear: when we follow Jesus, Jesus becomes our author. When we allow Jesus to author our lives, we become a new creation. Consider one of many transfigurations that happen through Scripture when we submit to the authority of the Lord. Gideon said, “Forget it, unless you send me better brothers, I’m not doing anything!” But Gideon the Timid became the Gideon the greatest judge of all of Israel. This may happen to us as well, when we allow Jesus to be our author.

A new season is a new opportunity to return to first things. Let us begin with the most important thing. On what is the foundation of our faith built? On nothing less the Jesus’ blood and righteousness. On Christ the solid rock we stand. The unique claim of Christianity in world history is the person of Jesus Christ. As the apostle Paul wrote, “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor 15:3). This single event — the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus the Christ — is the hinge of history.

2/11 - 2/12/2023 (February 11 & 12) | The King of Kings and Lord of Lords

We talk a lot about kingdoms. But you cannot have a kingdom without a king. Who is the king, not just of our private hearts, but the entire world? From the beginning, God’s design was to be the people’s King. There is no other solution; no other authority is worthy. Jesus is the King and has been given all authority over creation, in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18). The authority does not solely lie within the past (tradition) or the future (progress) or a strongman leader who will save us. Rather, Jesus is the authority. Only Jesus can save us, and he has already done so through the cross. It is only when we stop looking to other authorities, and even to ourselves as authorities, and recognize Jesus as the authority of our lives, that the problems of the world abate, and we discover peace. Jesus is clear: the Kingdom of God is not found in the formation of political systems and in the exercise of human power, no matter how noble the intent. The Kingdom of God is only found in the presence of God and is only built by Jesus (Matt 16:18). Jesus is the only good, true, and beautiful source of authority.

2/4 - 2/5/2023 (February 4 & 5) | True Vine : The Bread of Life

Jesus is the source of all life. When we, as branches, are connected well to the vine, we bear fruit. When we become disconnected, we whither and die. This is one of my favorite images because it is a clear image of how Jesus is the giver of life. When we are connected, we flourish. When we become disconnected — by disease, by outside forces that harm us, etc. — we whither. Another great aspect of this image is that we can be grafted onto the vine, so even if we were connected to the wrong vine, when we become attached to the true vine, we flourish.

When Jesus said he is the bread of life, he answered the question raised in the prayer he offered to the disciples in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus is the source of sustenance (Matt 6:11). But bread is more than just physiological; it is also a primary sign of fellowship and hospitality, which are core convictions to God’s people. Abraham used bread for hospitality when he shared bread with his three visitors (Gen 18). David used it as a symbol to invite Mephibosheth to his table (1 Sam 9:7). Jewish custom breaks bread at the beginning of every meal. Third, bread is a symbol of our covenant with God. It is manna (Ex 16), an image of God’s faithfulness, which Jesus carries forward in the New Covenant he makes in the Upper Room (Matt 26:26).

1/28 - 1/29/2023 (January 28 & 29) | The Way, The Truth, and The Life

He is the way — a way of living, a rhythm of life, the practical decisions of daily existence. He is the truth - truth is not a proposition or a philosophy, but only found in the person of Jesus Christ. He is the life - Jesus is clear that the life abundantly lived (John 10:10) only comes through him.

1/21 - 1/22/2023 (January 21 & 22) | The Good Shepherd

Jesus also describes himself using lamb imagery, saying he is the Good Shepherd. A bad shepherd snoozes while wolves come, or allows a stray sheep to wander off. A good shepherd does his job well. He chases after the one (Luke 15:3-7). He puts his own life in danger in order to protect us. When we understand ourselves as sheep, we see that we are prone to wander. We are basically dumb. We make bad decisions. We need someone to protect us from harm. Jesus is our Shepherd.
Psalm 23 — the proactive nature of the Shepherd

1/14 - 1/15/2023 (January 14 & 15) | The Lamb of God

Jesus is the last lamb who came into Jerusalem as a lamb to be slaughtered (Ex 29:38-42), shed his blood on behalf of all humankind, and was the completion of Passover and the fulfillment and resolution (the telos) and reconciliation of people to God (1 Cor 5:7). He was perfect as lambs were required to be (Ex 12:1-6), and thus he died without deserving it. But he was no weak lamb; instead, he was a warrior lamb who, though he was one with God (Phil 2), took on the weight of the world’s sins because of his all-encompassing love for the world, and thus demonstrated once and for all that love conquers death. In this way, Jesus demonstrates for us how through our own willingness to die (to self and even unto life), we show what true love is, and thus overcome evil with good. (This is Christus Victor — in my theology of atonement, penal substitution and Christus Victor aren’t competing ideas, but sacrifice is part of the larger story of victory.)

1/7 - 1/8/2023 (January 7 & 8) | The Alpha and Omega

Jesus is eternal (John 1), the agent of all creation (Col 1:16), and through his life, death, and resurrection, inaugurated the end or telos (John 19:30), now (Matt 12:28) and forever (Matt 24:44). When we follow Jesus, we can be confident that he is God and one with God.

All Series

The Christ
1/7 - 2/19/2023
What is it about Jesus that is unique? This series helps us as followers of Jesus to better understand the person of Jesus (in the Trinity) and his singular importance in the world and in our daily lives. A proper understanding of Jesus is what theologians call a “Christology.” The old hymns teach us to lift high the cross. When we keep Jesus elevated, the Christian faith makes sense, even in its mystery and lament. But when we allow Jesus to be lowered, all sorts of sanctimony and social unrest take its place in the thrones of our hearts and our communities. This series uses images established in Scripture to explore important images that illuminate the person of Jesus Christ. Each of these are declarations by and about Jesus. Our goal is that by better understanding who Jesus is, we may rightly place him high on the thrones of our lives, become better followers, and discover life in abundance.
New Years Day 2023
1/1/2023
All I Want For Christmas
11/26 - 12/18/2022
This series will focus on the hope and love in our Christian story. We seek this message of hope and love in other ways, and Christmas movies are staples of tradition this time of year. We will look at well-known Christmas movies and connect the Christian story to these somewhat secular movies.
Paul
8/13 - 11/20/2022
There are so many rich themes found in the letters that are attributed to the Apostle Paul. It is clear from the tone of each text: Paul certainly lacks no sense of urgency or conviction! This man is someone to whom we can look as we strive to follow Christ, while also recognizing the realities of life. Paul was no stranger to suffering for the sake of the Gospel. Amid the temptations of divisions, shallow contentment, or misled teachers, Paul boldly reminds his flocks what a life in God’s economy entails: unity, boldness, and defense of the one true Gospel. These themes are the bedrock for not only Paul’s mission as a devoted follower of Christ and leader of early Christians, but serve as the foundation for us still today. Overall, each of these three themes leads to real transformation. Everybody loves a story, so we need to tell the story of Paul, weaving into where he was in his writing and his ministry. The chronology makes the story so much more authentic, even shocking. So we will connect the dots of Paul’s life and ministry, dropping down regularly to hear Paul in his letters addressed to the churches in his care. We will use NT Wright’s chronology of Paul’s ministry. It is as good as any and better than most. It can be found in the back of Wright’s book, Paul.
Better Together
6/25 - 8/14/2022
The Old and New Testaments: two pieces of one whole that tell us who we are and who God is.Yet as Christians we often neglect to realize these are two crucial pieces of the same story. Instead, we see them as separate pieces and neglect to realize the threads stretching from Genesis to Revelation that are all telling the same story: the loving, merciful God is in our midst. This summer we will take time to pull at those threads of God’s story and come to find a deeper understanding of these two testaments to God’s gracious actions throughout history.
More Than Conquerors
5/14 - 6/19/2022
In the early first century, culturally speaking, everything was positioned around the idea that a nation ought to expand and conquer to accumulate power and influence. In this way, the movement that began with Jesus was positioned well to be a religion that was focused on going out in the world, spreading its message to new nations, and converting others to this system of beliefs. The world was primed for a religious movement that would respond to the great commission, and in effect, go forth and conquer. Yet, the church was not about conquering. It did not hope to extinguish and assimilate every other person and culture. Instead, the early church grew on the basis that it had the ability to universally speak to the human condition of brokenness and offer hope and promise in the wake of that very condition. The church would be more than the conquerors. Everyone was coming to believe in the promise of God. The Gospel reached into different cultures, differently idioms and languages altogether. In this message, they preached and believed that Jesus would return again, and would return again sooner rather than later. Nobody could have fathomed the idea that 2000 years into the future, we would still be waiting on this return. They were teaching each other lessons and lifting each other up in the hopes that they would be alive to see the grand return. However, those lessons taught have a practicality that transcends any time period. In growing over this time, the church moved beyond the disciples. What was once an effort of individuals and leaders who had all had direct connections to, and conversations with, the risen Lord now transitioned to a movement of different ages, nations, and races of converted believers who had simply heard the Good News of the Gospel. They would lean on their own spiritual experiences of the divine rather than tangible interactions with God Incarnate. What will leadership look like in this new Church? Who can be a part of this faith movement? What will be required to participate? Most importantly, how do those messages speak to us today?
Appeared
4/23 - 5/8/2022
Easter has come, Christ has been resurrected. We have enjoyed the big celebrations, the Easter egg hunts, and the family meals, but we forget that there was more than an empty tomb after Christ was resurrected. There were more visits than the brief encounter of the women in the garden. A fully resurrected Christ is a free Christ. Jesus could have gone anywhere and done anything after the resurrection, and yet he chose to search for the disciples. Jesus sought out the ones who abandoned and failed him more than anyone else. The ones who swore loyalty disappeared. The ones who followed in his footsteps for three years turned their backs on the suffering Savior. The ones who pledged to help transform the world abandoned the mission in fear and shame. Yet the story of the cross and resurrection is true for each of us through the power of God’s grace: we are more than our worst moments. The worst thing is never the last thing. What might those disciples have been feeling after the cross? Can you imagine the deep silence between them? The shared knowledge of their failures? The unrelenting question: “What now?” Brene Brown defines shame as “an intensely painful feeling or experience of believing that we are flawed and therefore unworthy of love, belonging, and connection.” It is not hard to imagine the deep shame of these disciples, one that each of them knew intimately and yet did not want to name. Shame assigns identity based on our worst moments. It thrives on secrecy. It is “the fear that something we’ve done or failed to do, an ideal we’ve not lived up to, or a goal we’ve not accomplished makes us unworthy of connection” (Brene Brown, Atlas of the Heart, 137). We see over and over again in the Gospels and Acts scenes of redemption and healing through God’s grace. Jesus could have chosen to abandon the ones who left him at the cross, who pretended they did not even know him, to start from scratch with better disciples. Yet in God’s infinite grace and unrelenting love, the disciples were chosen for connection, relationship, and entrusted with the mission of Christ. Jesus confronts their failures head on. This is the Christian story: our deepest shame is redeemed and we are transformed into world-changing disciples
Holy Week
4/14 - 4/17/2022
Inevitable
3/5 - 4/10/2022
Inevitable. Given the depth and pervasiveness of human rebellion against God, it was inevitable that God would have to step in and take upon himself the burden of putting things right. And God would do this by taking on human flesh, born a faithful Jew. Jesus would do and be for Israel, and, hence, for us all, what only God could do and be.In this Lenten series, Jesus turns his face toward Jerusalem and what awaits him there. It will be a cosmic clash between Jesus’ faithfulness and the dark powers of this world. Thus, as we progress through the series, we will see a ever-fuller portrait of Jesus and his work in this world, culminating in his humiliating death on a Roman cross. Want to know what God is? This is it.
Three Short Years
1/8 - 2/27/2022
Within three years, Jesus healed the sick, freed the oppressed, and set a course for all of human history to be made right. As we explore the gospels, we'll dive into a study of Jesus' ministry, meeting those who were on the receiving end of his work, and realize how Christ's work continues to this day.
Breakthrough
1/1 - 1/2/2022
After nine months of waiting and suspense, the Christ-child arrives into the arms of a new mother. Joseph and Mary are in for the many revelations that first time parents always discover, but even more so they must grapple with the truth: God incarnate has arrived among us in this tiny bundle of joy. This revelation can’t be kept to themselves. Instead, God’s breakthrough into human existence must be shared with everyone, even total strangers who come bearing gifts to honor Christ, the infant King.
Ask Arthur 2021
12/26/2021
The Thrill of Hope
11/27 - 12/24/2021
It is truly a thrill to see what might be possible through the power of hope, and no season is more filled with hope than Advent and Christmas. Many people see hope as a beautiful and graceful bird, light and airy, making its way into our lives softly and tenderly. But hope is often not experienced as a tender reality. Instead, hope is scrappy, persistent, and stubborn. The world tells us to give up, to forget promises, to embrace cynicism. Yet tenacious hope in God’s presence and promise stands its ground; it will not allow us to take the easy way out. As we engage with the words of the prophets throughout this series, we will witness the insistent hope of people who should have given up a long time ago. It carried them through the darkest times and enabled them to witness the arrival of God incarnate, Jesus Christ: the embodiment of relentless hope.
Leading People
11/7 - 11/21/2021
“Making your way in the world today takes everything you got.  Having a friend to help along the way sure would help a lot.  Wouldn’t you like to get away?  Sometimes you want to get away…  People are all same. You want to go where everyone knows your name.” As it says in the Cheers theme song, “People are all the same.”  Relationships, business, organizations, and churches all have one thing in common:  they are full of people.  People are great.  People are complicated.  How do we live with one another and keep moving forward?  It requires leadership, culture, and boundaries.  Much of scripture is about people living together for a common purpose. Imagine a place much like Cheers, with one crucial difference: we are working for the Kingdom of God.  In the Old Testament, they were working for the Holy Land, “a land of milk and honey,” where they would worship the one God.  A land that would allow them to build a community and change the world together. We aren’t any different than they were. People are all the same. We must learn how to live with one another, care for one another, and build the Kingdom of God together.
God In Motion
9/26 - 10/31/2021
St. Andrew is embarking on a nine-month journey through the narrative of the Bible to uncover a clearer understanding of who God is, and this series is the first chapter of that exploration. Where did it all begin? In six weeks we will cover some of the densest books of the Bible, from God’s creation of all things, to God’s covenant promise, to the life of Moses. We’ll join together in discovering our roots, the source of it all: God is.
Solid Souls
8/15 - 9/26/2021
Philosophers from Plato to Pixar all assume we have a soul. But what does that actually mean, and why does it matter? We will weave together Scripture, history, theology, and pop culture to reclaim the ancient concept of a soul. A soul is not afterlife vapor but something very real and very specific: the resurrection of the body. Jesus’ message is that the kingdom of heaven is here now. Some think the state of our soul only comes down to one big spiritual decision in life. However, while we depend on the grace of God, our soul is shaped by life’s little everyday decisions, not just a few big ones. These small decisions in our relationships, in our work, and for ourselves put us on a trajectory towards a more solid soul, or a more shriveled soul, one that is isolated from others and God. The choices that we make in every moment lead us toward heaven or away from it. Learn to see your life and the lives of others with eternal eyes, and learn how to live life in such a way that you find yourself on a trajectory toward fulfillment and flourishing.
Andrew's Way
8/8/2021
Who are we? All Christians are disciples, but who are we uniquely gifted to be as the people of St. Andrew? This week, we return to our roots to remind ourselves that we are the evangelists, the disciples who reach out, the ones who are unafraid to share an invitation with everyone we meet to encounter the true Messiah.
More Than the Twelve
6/13 - 8/1/2021
A Worthy Life
5/2 - 6/6/2021
Ephesians has long held a lofty place in the New Testament canon. It is concise, well- structured, and tightly argued. John Stott noted that “It was John Calvin’s favorite letter. . . .” William Barclay quotes Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s assessment of it as “the divinest composition of man” and adds his own dictum that it is “the Queen of the epistle.” John Mackay, former President of Princeton Theological Seminary, writing in 1948 called Ephesians “the most contemporary book in the Bible” since it promises community in a world of disunity, reconciliation in place of alienation and peace instead of war (also from Stott’s commentary). Seventy years later, Ephesians is as contemporary as ever. Truly, Ephesians is “doctrine set to music” as Mackay said. Thus, in this series, we will strive to hear this music well, even as we consider how we can play the music in our lives. Ephesians is all about learning to think and live theologically.
Proving Jesus
4/10 - 4/25/2021
The Christian faith is unique in the world because our entire belief system is dependent upon one historical fact: Jesus Christ rose from the dead. In order for our beliefs to be true, his body cannot have simply been stolen. It cannot be that he just appeared as a ghost with his body still in the tomb. The claim from the early Christians is simple. Jesus’s body was not in the tomb because he was bodily resurrected. What is our proof for such a radical claim? Our proof is people, those that witnessed the resurrection and lived their lives accordingly. During this series we will get to know three people that were witnesses to the resurrected Christ and how their experience can become our Proof.
Easter 2021
4/3 - 4/4/2021
Every Moment Holy
2/20 - 3/28/2021
Noise, by definition, is unwanted sound. Can anyone deny that our lives are too noisy today? Social media, divisive opinions, television, podcasts, and other distractions have never been more prevalent in our world than in our current moment in history. In the midst of all this, are we truly hearing the clear signal of God? In the narrative of scripture God chooses to be present in every moment, both big and small. Our response is to turn down the noise and tune in to God, allowing every moment to be holy.
Already One
1/10 - 2/14/2021
“…for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” This is not only a future promise from Galatians 3, but it is a current reality. Christ has already made us one: one body, one family, unified in purpose. In the sacraments of baptism and communion, God creates bonds of the Holy Spirit that cannot be easily broken. If this is true, why don’t we act like it? Throughout this series, we will answer the call to live out the truth of our lives: We are already one.
Epiphany
1/2 - 1/3/2021
Ask Arthur
12/27/2020
Everything is Gonna Be All Right
11/29/2020
Each person in scripture was given a promise: not of an immediate shift in their fortunes, but a bigger-picture assurance. The promise is that God is with us, so everything is gonna be all right. We will tell stories where things didn’t have to be perfect right then — it would become perfect in the future.   Christmas is a promise. That promise is simple: God has come. God will win. Glory to the highest heaven! At least we know, everything is gonna be all right.
A Bigger Story
11/1 - 11/22/2020
Live into the tension. Any great story requires us to live through tension and anxiety, quickly turning pages and asking what will come next. This year has left us hanging on the edges of our seats as we ask that question of our real lives. As we look toward what tomorrow might bring, God is reminding that we are part of a bigger story. There is hope in the tension; God is calling us to something bigger than ourselves.
Knowing God
9/12 - 10/25/2020
How do you know God? This is a question that propels many into the church, Bible studies, prayer groups, and worship. This is a question that haunts Christians decades after their baptism, and it is the question we will explore as a community of faith as we read through the story of Exodus, when God was made known to God’s people through acts of salvation. Click here for Connection Group materials
You Can't Always Get What You Want
8/15 - 9/6/2020
After months of hoping a pandemic would end, we all know what it feels like when we do not get what we want. After so many disappointments, how do we move forward as faithful disciples? When we feel like God chooses to be silent, how do we hold on to the hope Christ promises us? What do we do when God doesn’t give us what we want? In these four weeks we will explore the lessons scripture holds for us during these difficult times, holding on to our Christian hope in the process.
The Good News of Matthew
6/7 - 8/9/2020
We live in a world where promises are made and broken every day. We wonder what we can count on, who we can trust, what agreements are actually sacred. But God is different: God has made promises to humanity from the beginning of time, and those promises were fulfilled in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and the presence of the Holy Spirit. This summer, we will journey together through the Gospel of Matthew, unearthing the deeply-rooted commitments God made to creation, and the fulfillment of God’s words in Jesus’ teaching and actions. In this deep-dive of scripture, we will find the sure footing all of us are looking for.
We Are The Church
4/11 - 5/31/2020
“The church is not a building, the church is not a steeple, the church is not a resting place, the church is the people.” As we live into a time when our church buildings stand empty, as choir lofts sit silent and hymns are unsung, as pews are not filled with loving community, we need this simple reminder: the church is not a building, the church is the people. We’re getting back to the basics by diving into the lectionary texts that churches around the world will read together during difficult circumstances. We will learn from ancient Christians who knew how to be the church without buildings, pews, or altars of their own. We are the church, together.
Holy Week
4/9 - 4/10/2020
Community, Cross, and New Creation
3/1 - 4/5/2020
We are told the Bible is the source of a more fulfilling life, but it is too complicated to understand without God and God’s community walking through it with you. Understanding the Bible as a set of books in their normal order can seem like an almost impossible task. This series looks at three images that are present in every one of the 27 books of the New Testament. Reading the Bible with these three images in mind reveals a consistent moral vision: the promise of a new creation, only possible through community and the cross.
Heavenly Virtues
1/11 - 2/23/2020
Some of our most dominant social values today are education, success, and wealth — what we may call “Achievement Values.”  We may be "successful," but how often do we consider the state of our souls? This seven-week series helps us shift from from achievement values to heavenly virtues, or what author David Brooks calls eulogy virtues. These form the foundation of a life rooted in faith. Connection Group Materials Call-to-action handout
Fullness of Time
1/4 - 1/5/2020
Beginnings
12/28 - 12/29/2019
Christmas at St. Andrew
12/23 - 12/24/2019
Christmas Eve services at St. Andrew
Comfort and Joy
12/1 - 12/22/2019
Traditions are at the heart of the holiday season. Yet for many of us, the warmth of food, stories, music and gift giving among family is merely aspirational and the reality is that Christmas is a time of loneliness and sadness. The good news of Christmas is that the story of Jesus is actually a story about finding community, connection, and family — a place where we can both be comfortable in who we are and called to new life.
Everyday Saints
11/3 - 11/24/2019
When we hear the word “saint” we may think of Catholicism or football players or Mardi Gras. Most of us think of really religious people, perhaps people that are beyond us in terms of their virtue and character--for example, their goodness and ability to forgive. But sainthood isn’t a rank we achieve like a master spiritual level in a game of life. The biblical definition saint is very simple: “believer.” When you and I put our trust in Jesus Christ, we become saints, made holy through Jesus’ death and resurrection. If as believers, we are all saints, then what does that mean for our lives? In this series, we address what it means to be a saint. These four attributes help us understand the biblical definition of sainthood and bridge the space between the every day lives we lives and the holiness which we have received in Christ and to which we are called. Through faith in Christ, we can be saints.
Grace
10/20 - 10/27/2019
To understand Wesleyan theology, we need to understand the Wesley story. John and Charles Wesley had a standard approach to their ministry. They would enter a rural, English town square with an entourage of 20-30 friends, singing songs through the streets until people gathered. They’d end up in the town commons, and John would preach on living each day as if it was our last and our first. The first week of this series is a focus on Amazing Grace – the “last” portion of Wesley’s message, and the second week is a focus on Responsible Grace – the “first" portion.
Forge
9/15 - 10/13/2019
In this 5-week study of Forge, we will look at how to live a Christian life in the world today. Being a Christ follower is a process of being refined like a precious metal. It is not enough to remain in the dirt as raw ore. Christ wants to refine us into a work of beauty and function. In the series we will learn how to deal with times of anxiety and worry; what it means to follow Jesus in an increasingly “post-Christian” culture; how to navigate temptation; and the power of living in Christian community.
Equip
8/11 - 9/8/2019
Live well this fall. Get the tools you need for a more joy-filled, fulfilling life through this five-week study of practical ideas for daily living. In these five sermons, learn more about your faith, about parenting, how to deal with pain and loss, and how to live in relationship to other people.
Kids Stories as Adults 2
6/23 - 8/4/2019
When someone says, “it’s just child’s play,” they’re saying that it’s not important. To give something authority, we want it to be “grown up.” Kids stories, now and in Jesus’ day, carry little weight for adults. The same can be true for the famous “kid’s stories” of the Bible. In this series, we look at seven biblical stories that at first glance may seem to offer more to children than adults. But what if they offer us more? What can these stories teach us about what it means to follow Jesus today?
Daughters and Sons
6/1 - 6/16/2019
The old saying “blood is thicker than water” is a misquote. The full saying is, “the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb.” In other words, in Jesus, we redefine what we mean by blood, from shared DNA of our familial ties to the shared covenant of Christ’s blood shed for us. When we follow Jesus, we inherit a new family of fellow believers. We have a place at the table. We find that we belong. We are a child of a living and loving God. The community of faith is what church is all about.
Crux
4/28 - 5/26/2019
We tend to look for the satisfaction of a single answer: left or right, pro or con, blue or red. We want one idea to be right and the other idea wrong. The problem is, life isn’t always so clean cut. There are many instances in which it seems impossible to resolve competing claims. The life of following Jesus resists easy either/or thinking. Rather than insisting on one or another, what if we began to think of the big questions differently? In every big question, don’t just look to the usual positions. Look for Jesus. When you find the cross, you find the crux of the matter, and you will experience the fullness of the Christian life.
Expectations
3/9 - 4/21/2019
Join us for a seven-week look into the geography of Jesus, the long-expected Jewish revolutionary Messiah. A virtual tour of the geography of Jesus’ life will give us a fresh perspective on the purpose of Jesus’ ministry and how it overturned people’s expectations of what was going to happen. What Jesus did really mean when he preached that the kingdom of God was at hand, and what false expectations do we carry about what Jesus is going to do for us?
The Wesleyan Way
1/12 - 3/3/2019
Sometimes the “rules” of Christianity can seem so complex. An 18th century English pastor named John Wesley taught that the best guide for the journey of life and faith goes beyond the important forms and rituals of religion to a place of rediscovering the joy and freedom that the earliest followers of Jesus felt. Wesley sparked a worldwide revival of Christian faith by pointing to a way of following Jesus based on a real relationship where we can find God’s grace. This series looks at eight core aspects of faith that lead to a joyful and abundant life.
Home Again
12/1 - 12/24/2018
We’re told Christmas is the happiest season. We want to experience home. Yet the holidays rarely live up fully to our imagination. For many of us, the idea of Christmas remains a dream. The Christian story is that this world was once God’s home and we were with God. Jesus brings us home again. Our dreams of home became a reality on the day that Jesus was born. Christmas is about coming home again.
Witness
11/24 - 11/25/2018
We find our story and identity as Christians within the powerful, transformative narrative of Christ. We explore our faith journeys in this brief series as our church leaders share their personal testimony to Jesus.
Why I Give
10/27 - 11/18/2018
Many churches like to talk about giving in relationship to the work of the church. The problem is that the focus is in the wrong place. The heart of what it means to give isn’t about the support of an institution, no matter how good. The act of giving is about a state of generosity. Giving begins not with a what, but with a why. Everything changes. The act of giving becomes not a burden but a privilege, an opportunity to take on an essential characteristic at the heart of God, who so loved the world, he gave.
Witness
10/13 - 10/21/2018
We find our story and identity as Christians within the powerful, transformative narrative of Christ. We explore our faith journeys in this brief series as our church leaders share their personal testimony to Jesus.
Habits
9/8 - 10/7/2018
"What do you want?" This question, not what you believe or what you do, is Jesus' primary question to us. We are not merely the summation of what we think but how we feel. What we want out of life will shape what we do day to day. We see in the life of Jesus the truest form of what it means to be human, through the habits he chose to practice. Join us during this series as we explore what  spiritual habits or practices we learn from the life of Jesus, and how these can help us to shape who we are and what we want in life, from the outside in. 
Seeds
8/11 - 9/2/2018
While growth is good, it isn’t an end to itself, but the result of a life spent in the dirt, seeding and sowing. The biblical story begins in the dirt of Eden’s garden and ends in the garden city of God’s kingdom. God has designed us to live and work in the garden, tending and tilling. We’re made of dirt and for dirt. This combination of keeping and creating is a right way of understanding Creation and our work within it. Just as the purpose of fruit Is both joyous feasting and regenerative planting, our purpose is to both enjoy God’s gifts and nurture the presence of Jesus in the world.
Kids Stories As Adults
7/7 - 8/5/2018
Some people refer to the Bible as a book of stories for children. But what if there’s more to the famous children’s stories of Scripture than we realize?  What if these stories aren’t simply harmless adventures, but true, powerful and even dangerous stories of God at work in the lives of people like us? Experience famous biblical stories with all of the richness and nuance and universal human emotion they deserve.
Incarnation
6/30 - 7/1/2018
“The world did not know him...” Many times, Jesus shows up in our lives in unexpected ways. It can be such a challenge in the midst of our everyday lives to recognize that God is present. Yet the truth of incarnation is that God chose to enter into creation, revealing God’s grace in miraculous and surprising places. We must simply learn to receive.  
Joined
5/20 - 6/24/2018
The church has held for 2000 years, an almost unimaginable amount of time. One secret to its longevity is a healthy tension between tradition and innovation - between staying connected and stretching to grow. Such tension is vital to a healthy church. Like joints that attach the parts of the body together, these essential, shared convictions and obligations keep us strong as we both hold to tradition and seek new ways to innovate.
When You Grow Up
4/8 - 5/13/2018
When Jesus invites us to become like little children, he doesn’t intend for us to stay there. Instead, he wants us to grow up, the right way-to not just acquire knowledge but to become full in spirit and truth–mature in thought and action. 
Easter Series
3/25 - 4/1/2018
In ancient culture, conquering rulers rode into town on a high horse, a war steed of the best line, to make sure the commoners knew who was in charge. Jesus instead chose a donkey, a meek animal. He wasn't above the people, but on eye level, a symbol of foolishness to those in charge, but an image of salvation for a higher kingdom.
Between Friends
2/18 - 3/18/2018
Jesus says that the greatest love is to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. We describe marriage this way, but any friendship can be as holy, if the love of God and the presence of the Holy Spirit are between the two friends. When Jesus laid down his life for us, he showed us what kind of friends we can have, and what kind of friends we can be.  
Starting Over
1/14 - 2/11/2018
 If you’ve ever played a game, you know the appeal of a do-over. If you’re human, there’s certainly a part of life you wish you could do over, too. But is it really possible to start over, or is life a pile of regrets and consequences? Jesus promises that with faith, we can become a new creation, born with God’s Spirit, and how, when we follow Jesus, God heals sin’s four breaks (from God, from one another, from ourselves, and from creation) and gives us the power of Christ’s resurrection in the midst of our not-yet-redeemed world.
A New Thing
12/30/2017 - 1/7/2018
The new year brings new resolve to do more and be better. This impulse is good. God wants to do a new thing in us. But the catch is, we cannot find new life by trying to be better, but only through faith in Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit that renews us.
Fall on Your Knees
12/3 - 12/24/2017
For thousands of years, to take a knee has meant to worship. It is what the Magi did when they entered the presence of the Christ child. Scripture tells us they literally fell down on their knees and kissed the ground in honor before the baby Jesus. More than just a sign of respect, we fall on our knees at Christmas because we are overcome with gratitude and amazement at the very presence of God among us.  This is what we call worship.
Christ the King
11/26/2017
On this, the last weekend in the historic Christian Calendar, we celebrate Christ the King, the shepherd king whose kingdom has no end, the Lord of Lords, whose dominion has no bounds.
Setting the Table
11/19/2017
This Thanksgiving, we gather together with family and friends. The table is vital to the family of faith. Everywhere you read in the gospels, Jesus is eating with people. That’s because the kingdom of God isn’t a geographical location, but a set of relationships where Jesus is sovereign. We gather around the table to express gratitude for our many blessings.
Unbalanced
10/22 - 11/12/2017
Gift-giving can be difficult. It's easy to get hung up on the value of our gifts and offerings. The moment we make our gifts into a calculated balancing attempt, it becomes an exchange for services. The good news is we know we're unbalanced, but God loves us anyway. When we understand God's no-strings-attached gift in Jesus, we can respond freely. The more we see God's gift as extravagant, the more extravagantly giving people we want to become. 
Born To Run
9/10 - 10/15/2017
Jesus asked people to “follow me.” The earliest Christians were so branded with an image of movement that they were known as “the Way”. Jesus doesn’t just want our intellectual assent. When he tells us to "go and make disciples", perhaps the most important word is the first one: go. Discipleship isn’t something we do with our minds, but something we do with our feet, and the missionary God who came to be with us also calls us to be with others in body and in spirit. 
Mind Over Grind
8/20 - 9/3/2017
Summertime is over. Now, it’s back to the grind. Why do we have such a sense of dread about the routine? If you are struggling with the grind of life, ask the Holy Spirit to work with you to do something about it. You might just find that with the right mindset our days of joyless routines can turn into a full life consisting of faith, hope, and love.
Supporting Actors
6/25 - 8/13/2017
Most of the time, we view ourselves as the main character of our own lives.  In the entertainment industry, actors that last discover something akin to a biblical truth, which is that sometimes, we’re not the star. We’re the supporting actor. This summer, we’re going to highlight eight people whose actions put the spotlight on God’s power and love, on Jesus, and on the building of God’s kingdom.
Restoration
5/28 - 6/18/2017
Micah offers people a vision of restoration. Like an old object retrieved form the attic or shed, dusted off, and cleaned back to its original condition, Micah offers the Israelites an opportunity to dust off and restore their relationship with God. The image of restoration also invites us to respond. We have a job to do.
Who is Andrew
4/30 - 5/21/2017
The life of the Apostle Andrew, the first evangelist, embodies our aim of spreading the word of God and sharing good works. We ask, Who is Andrew? And as we explore the life of our namesake, we understand the meaning of our mission, "Calling the Christian-ish to become passionate servants of Christ."
Everything Changes
4/16 - 4/23/2017
To witness an actual, physical resurrection is so mind boggling, it can create confusion, not joy. But Jesus encourages us to let go of what we think we know, and instead to tell the world: everything has changed.
The Main Thing
3/5 - 4/9/2017
With God’s vision for all people in mind, now the work begins. New visions are exciting and easy to follow, but it’s after the glow has faded when we must become committed.  Our challenge, to use the old saying, is to know and keep the main things of life: to keep our eyes on the summit and our spirits committed to the work ahead.
See Clearly Now
1/8 - 2/26/2017
The world is full of people with vision. As followers of Jesus, though, our vision is different than what the world offers. The Bible tells the story of God’s singular vision for humankind  It is a promise of the restoration of God’s creation and our place in it. Our question as a church, as institutional and family leaders, and as individuals is, whose vision do you see?
God Abides
11/27 - 12/18/2016
The story of Christmas itself is, as births go, quite simple. The moment itself was simply about Jesus … being.  As far as we know, Jesus didn’t do any miracles on the night of his birth. He evidently didn’t begin talking or walking until the normal time that an infant would walk or talk. At Christmas, Jesus simply is. In Jesus’ birth, for the only time between the beginning and the end of time, God came to us. At Christmas, God abides.
The Net Effect
10/23 - 11/13/2016
Jesus offers a vision of the end result of a life spent following him when he asked Simon the fisherman to let down his nets one more time. Simon had failed all night to catch a single fish. What Jesus suggested seemed to counter conventional wisdom, but when Simon submitted, the net effect was an abundance of fish. When we listen to what Jesus says, the net effect is a life of overwhelming abundance, a life lived to the fullest.
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