Seeing People

 What could be the consequences of our learning to see people the way Jesus sees them?

Being Human

 An investigation into the Christian view of what it means to be human

The Big Story

 There's a "big story," a large narrative, that connects the Bible from beginning to end. God invites us to be willing and active participants in this story.

The Scripture Way of Salvation

 John Wesley found prevenient, justifying, and sanctifying grace in his sermon on Ephesians 2. The Methodist tradition has followed him on this. That understanding of grace reflects what we see in scripture, but is not the full picture of what we see there. Attention to the whole of Ephesians 2 shows us the communal dimensions of grace as well.

The Key to the Community

 The Samaritan woman Jesus talks with at a well proves to be the key to reaching her community. Who might be the key to reaching our community?

When God Volunteers Us

 In Acts 9 we see God calling Ananias and giving him an important task - without consulting him at all. Sometimes God volunteers us without consulting us.

Discerning God's Work

 In Acts 9 we find some clues to how we can discern God's work in our lives and in the world.

The Road to Texarkana

 Paul ran into Jesus on the Road to Damascus. From his experience we can learn to tell our own stories of running into Jesus.

The Mark of a Healthy Church

 If we listen to Jesus (and the rest of the New Testament), we can see that love is an indispensable marker of a healthy church. I John 4:7-21 is the core text

Change is Hard

 In John 3 some people come to provoke John the Baptist to play the comparison game with Jesus. John's response? "He must become greater, I must become less." How can we learn from John to find the peace that comes from not playing the comparison game?

Waiting on the Spirit

 In Acts 1:1-8 Jesus says to WAIT on the "promised Holy Spirit."

Living Like Jesus Reigns

 The New Testament teaches that Jesus is crucified, risen, ascended, and reigning at the Father's side. But when we look at the world is sure doesn't look like he's in charge. What can we make of that contrast?

When People Are Wrong

 Jesus and Paul give us examples of what to do when people are wrong.

It Is Finished

 Jesus's finished work on the cross is sufficient for us. He invites us to live out of that finished work.

Bold Women

 We see bold women who fear God and save lives in Exodus 1 & 2

The Two Ways

 In Matthew 7 Jesus sets up some comparative binaries: Wide way, narrow way; false prophets, true prophets; false disciples, true disciples; wise and foolish people.

Death Defeated

 The women went to Jesus' tomb early that Sunday. They knew Jesus had died, an obviously failed Messiah, but wanted to honor him by completing the burial customs for him. They found something they didn't expect.

(Note: Recording missed first minute or two of message)

Jesus the Prophet Enters Jerusalem

 Those who welcome Jesus into Jerusalem, welcome him as a prophet. But he was more than a prophet.

The Kingdom Starts Small

 We find several parable of Jesus in Matthew 13. Each gives the hearer an aspect of what the Kingdom is like. In the parables of the mustard seed and the leaven, we see that God's starts small. When we see that God starts small, we can look for the small work God wants to do in our lives now.

What About the Weeds?

 Jesus' parable about the wheat and the weeds helps us understand how to deal with the quest for purity.

Jesus' Account of Happiness

 In the Beatitudes we discover some of Jesus' teaching on happiness, on living the blessed life.

Victory over Temptation

 What can we learn from how Jesus confronted temptation?

Jesus' Method of Disciplemaking

 From Matthew 4:12 - 9:38 we see Jesus' method of making disciples in detail.

Fellow Citizens of the Kingdom

 In Philippians 1:27 - 2:4 we see the character qualities we need to live well together as fellow citizens of the Kingdom of God.

Want to Be a Leader

If we are aware of the trajectory of God's work in our lives & in the world, we can hear God's invitation to join in what he's doing.

Confronting Risk

 What can we learn from Paul and other people in the Bible when it comes to facing risk 

well?

Watch Out for People

 There is a clear thread through scripture - and our history - of God calling people to be "Watchmen," to watch out for people. We see this in Ezekiel 33. We see it in 1 Corinthians 9. We see it in Jesus' ministry. We see it in the lives of John Wesley & William Booth.

Step Into the Light

1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." There is a connection between this confession of sin and our confession of faith that we do with the creeds.

Confidence with God

 Jesus invites us to confidently enter God's rest.

Learning with Job

 What help does the Bible give with the problem of suffering?

All In

 Joseph went "all in" for Jesus. We can follow his example.

Joy to the World

 The birth of Jesus was (and is!) a true occasion for joy for the whole world.

Christmas Love

How did Joseph handle things when he learned Mary was pregnant? Through his obedience, he served an essential role in Gods gift of his Son.

The Problem of Prophecy

 It's common to take prophecy as a prediction of what will happen in the future. While this element of prophecy is found in the Bible, the primary purpose of prophecy is for God to speak into the lives and situations of his people. Through prophecy God offers words of hope and encouragement - as well as calls to repentance.