References 

From Billy Graham:

"Everywhere I go I find that God's people lack something. They are hungry for something. Their Christian experience is not all that they had expected, and they often have recurring defeat in their lives. Christians today are hungry for spiritual fulfillment. The most desperate need of our nation today is that men and women who profess Jesus be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit."

From John Stott (paraphrased by Paul Joslin near the close):

"What the church needs and what the world needs is not better learning, not more education systems, not more programming, not even better preaching... What the church needs is the Holy Spirit and what the world needs is the Holy Spirit."

Paraphrased content from Tyler Staton:

Paul Joslin breaks down Staton's concepts into what he calls "three swimming lessons":

* Spoken Love: Witnessing in boldness what Christ has done in our lives by bringing our honest selves—our joy, struggles, fears, and failures—into everyday moments like work, parenting, and hanging out with friends.
* Supernatural Love: Witnessing in power through acts of compassion and healing, demonstrating that God reigns over a broken world.
* Sacrificial Love: Witnessing through the cross by consistently choosing humility over recognition, service over status, and forgiveness over revenge.

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Science & Faith: Interpreting the Bible's Creation Stories, Tim Mackie, Co-founder of The Bible Project

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Jesus’ Word: teleios

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His journey challenges us to look beyond our own successes and question what we're really devoted to. Are we building a life that lasts, or are we just getting distracted by the shiny, temporary things along the way? The story of Solomon isn't just about a king from a long time ago; it's a mirror that reflects the choices we all face today.

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Shame can take hold in our lives, whether it's from past failures, painful experiences, or the pressure to meet other people’s expectations. It can leave us feeling like we’re not worthy of love or belonging. But then we see King David, who goes out of his way to show unexpected kindness to someone who had been living in isolation and shame. He brings him in, gives him a seat at his table, and secures his future. 

That story points us to what Jesus does for us today. He meets us in our brokenness and offers us grace, not because we’ve earned it, but because we’re deeply loved. In real life, that kind of grace means we don’t have to hide our imperfections or pretend we have it all together. Jesus invites us in, just as we are, and gives us a place to belong. Grace might not take away all the hard things, but it anchors us in love, worth, and belonging. 

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We all have a deep desire for security, purpose, and someone to lead us through the chaos of life. So the universal human tendency is to place our hope in leaders, systems, or circumstances—only to be let down time and again. It challenges us to consider what (or who) we're really trusting and invites us to reimagine where true stability and peace come from in the middle of life's uncertainties.

Unlike the stars or sun, God created us with care and intention. Even when we feel "not enough" the truth is he made each of us uniquely to reflect his image—in kindness, creativity, and how we treat others. And even when life gets messy, God's love never gives up; he's always ready to make us new again.

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• References: Tove (טוֹב): Hebrew for "good" or "life-giving."
• Tove Me’od (טוֹב מְאֹד): "Very good" or "complete goodness."

Baptism is a powerful, public way to show that our lives have changed through God's forgiveness—it's not about earning forgiveness but declaring the freedom we've already received. It also encourages us to hold on to hope in the resurrection, which promises a real, renewed life with God, where all pain and brokenness will be healed. Finally, saying "amen" to the Creed is like saying, "Yes, I'm all in" committing to live out these truths every day, letting our faith shape how we love, work, and face life's challenges.

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• "In the new heavens and new Earth, there is no death, no suffering. There are no funeral homes or abortion clinics or psychiatric wards. There are no assaults or missing children or drug rehabilitation centers. There is no bigotry, no muggings, no killings, no worry or depression or economic downturns. There are no wars. There is no unemployment, no anguish over failure and miscommunication. No more of that forever. No conmen, no locks. No death, no mourning, no pain, no boredom, and no arthritis. No handicaps, no cancer, no taxes, no bills. No computer crashes, no weeds, no bombs. There is no drunkenness, no traffic jams or accidents. There are no septic tank backups. There is no mental illness, no unwanted e-mails. There are close friendships, but no cliques. There is laughter, but no put-downs, no laughter at the expense of someone else. There is intimacy, but no temptation to immorality. There are no hidden agendas, no backroom deals, no betrayals. Imagine mealtimes full of stories, laughter and joy, without any fear of insensitivity or inappropriate behavior, anger, gossip, lust, jealousy, hurt feelings, or anything else that eclipses our joy. That will be heaven. Can you imagine the beauty?" - Randy Alcorn
• "To confess the faith and say "amen" is to make what we believe into something shared and public and recognizable, not just a fleeting thought in the heart. When we say "I believe" in our baptism, or "we believe" in a Sunday liturgy, we are making a commitment that is a pledge of allegiance, joining us to other believers around the world in the body of Christ, some of whom are bound to get into trouble for making this commitment." - Philip Carey

Sometimes in life, our faith can feel dull or boring, like losing the ability to taste our favorite foods, but this reminds us to return to the simple, powerful truth that God saves us—past, present, and future. Worship and praise help revive our connection with God, awakening a fresh sense of joy and gratitude even in tough times. No matter what struggles we face, God is always attentive, ready to rescue and transform us, inviting us to actively experience His love and salvation every day.

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• "The Bible insists on using sensory language about salvation. It calls us to taste and see that the Lord is good. Not only agree and believe." - Tim Keller
• "Salvation is more than the sojourn of souls into heaven. Rather, it is holistic and includes the well-being of body, mind and soul." - Michael Bird

We are part of one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church—a unified, set-apart, global body centered on Jesus and grounded in Scripture. As a body of believers we are called to live this out by pursuing unity over division, reflecting Christ in the way we love others, staying rooted in God's Word, and joining the mission to become like Jesus and live for others.

The presence of the Holy Spirit in a believer's life is evident through wisdom, revelation, and empowerment. Yet, many followers of Jesus struggle to fully embrace the Spirit and remain open to its power and transformative work—both of which are essential for a vibrant, faith-filled life.

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• "How many blessed truths have gotten snowed under. People believe them, but they are just not being taught, that is all. I think of our experience this morning. Here was a man and his wife, a very fine intelligent couple from another city. They named the church to which they belonged, and I instantly said, 'That is a fine church' 'Oh, yes,' they said, 'but they don't teach what we came over here for.' They came over because they were ill and wanted to be Scripturally anointed for healing. So I got together two missionaries, two preachers, and an elder, and we anointed them and prayed for them. If you were to go to that church where they attend and say to the preacher, 'Do you believe that the Lord answers prayer and heals the sick?' he would reply, 'Sure, I do!' He believes it, but he doesn't teach it, and what you don't believe strongly enough to teach doesn't do you any good. It is the same with the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Evangelical Christianity believes it, but nobody experiences it. It lies under the snow, forgotten. I am praying that God may be able to melt away the ice from this blessed truth, and let it spring up again alive, that the Church and the people who hear may get some good out of it and not merely say 'I believe' while it is buried under the snow of inactivity and nonattention." 'Lord, don't let me be guilty of keeping the truth of the Holy Spirit's ministry buried under the snow. Help me to both teach and live the active presence and controlling power of the Holy Spirit today. Amen.'" - A.W. Tozer, How to be Filled with the Spirit

• "Everywhere I go, I find that God's people lack something. They are hungry for something. Their Christian experience is not all that they expected." - Billy Graham

Jesus promises to come back—not with secret plans or end-of-the-world theories, but in full glory to set everything right. Instead of stressing about the timing or details, the focus is on who Jesus is: a fair judge and loving king. This gives us hope today, reminding us that no matter how broken or unfair life feels, Jesus will return to restore all things and bring lasting peace.

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• "The only way to solve the problem of evil is for God to do what in fact he did, to take it out of the world by taking it into himself" - Robert Capen

Jesus' resurrection and ascension are how God steps into our chaos and starts putting things back together—bringing order to the mess and beauty to our lives. Because he's alive and reigning, we get to experience his presence with us, the power of the Holy Spirit in us, and a new purpose that calls us to live for something bigger than ourselves.

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• John Craft, our Guest Speaker, is the Executive Director of the Rocky Mountain Church Network

Jesus' birth reveals the depth of God's faithful promises and longsuffering love. Seen through the experiences of Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds, it becomes clear that God stepped into human history to bring redemption. And the story continues—God still meets us in the midst of life's chaos, offering grace precisely when and where it's needed most.

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• Kaci Mexico, our Guest Speaker is on staff as Young Adults Pastor at Red Rocks Church

Cultural perceptions and misunderstandings can blur the true essence of Christ, creating a disconnect in how faith is lived and understood. Everyday situations—like the frustration of losing a TV remote—highlight the need for clarity and focus in our spiritual lives. The Nicene Creed calls believers to see Jesus not only as Savior, but as the sovereign King worthy of full allegiance. It invites a shift away from life's distractions toward a deeper, more committed relationship with Him. For those wrestling with faith or seeking renewal, this reflection offers a fresh perspective on who Jesus truly is.

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• What's a Christian Anyway? - by Glen Packiam

The Nicene Creed reminds us there is one God—a loving Father who created everything, seen and unseen. It points to Jesus, His Son, who lived among us, died for our sins, and rose again—assuring us that even in chaos, there's a greater plan and we're not alone.

The Holy Spirit brings life, comfort, and guidance, giving us strength for everyday challenges. Faith in God not only answers life's big questions but also helps us through our struggles.

We all face hard times, but God's goodness and presence offer real hope. So next time you’re with friends or family, share a moment when you sensed God's nearness. These stories connect us and remind us we belong to something bigger—a community grounded in faith and hope.

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• Hannah Torres, our Guest Speaker, attended Denver Seminary and is part of Generations Church in Thornton, CO
• "You can safely assume that you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do." - Anne Lamott
• "It all comes back to his goodness in the end. It was his goodness that created us and provided everything we would need for sustenance in this life." - Gerald Bray

In a world where Christianity often feels lost—caught between political battles, cultural trends, and growing distrust—how do we find our way back to what truly matters? This series, Ancient Faith, invites us to rediscover the Nicene Creed: an ancient, tested declaration that has anchored generations of believers through every storm. We see how the Creed guards our theology, grounds us in unity, and guides us through uncertainty—calling us to live lives that make the gospel beautiful and credible once again.

REFERENCES

• "In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity." - Often attributed to great theologians such as St. Augustine, it comes from an otherwise undistinguished German Lutheran theologian of the early seventeenth century, Rupertus Meldenius.
• "How is it possible that the gospel should be credible, that people should come to believe that the power which has the last word in human affairs is represented by a man hanging on a cross? I am suggesting that the only answer, the only hermeneutic of the gospel, is a congregation of men and women who believe it and live by it." - Lesslie Newbigin
• What's a Christian Anyway? by Glen Packiam

We often forget—Easter began in a graveyard. It's there that we're reminded: death doesn't get the final word, and real life in Jesus starts now. The story of Lazarus shows us that faith isn't about having it all figured out. It leaves room for questions, doubts, and honest grief. Just like Jesus met Mary and Martha in their sorrow, He meets us in ours—offering hope, healing, and new life.

This Easter, the heart of the message is simple: Jesus is the resurrection and the life—bringing hope for today and promise for tomorrow.

We all experience moments of feeling out of place or longing for something more—like we're searching for a true sense of home. That deep longing can actually point to a spiritual need for connection, peace, and wholeness. Jesus' words, "I am the way, the truth, and the life," invite us to see him as the path back to that kind of life—one marked by restored relationship with God. In the middle of life's chaos, this promise offers real hope: that we're not alone, and that we're being led toward a lasting home with our Creator.

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In John 15, Jesus identifies himself as the True Vine, highlighting the invitation of remaining connected to him, as no branch can flourish on its own. He explains that while branches that bear no fruit are cut off, those that do bear fruit are pruned to increase their production, which shows that spiritual sustainability happens by connecting and depending on him. This relationship, cultivated through prayer and time in God's Word, invites us to experience deeper intimacy with God.

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• Living Fearlessly by Jamie Winship
  • "What do I need to know?"
  • "What do I need to do?"

Jesus is the Gate and the Good Shepherd because he provides salvation, guidance, and protection for all who follow him. In John 10, he describes himself as the gate to eternal life and the shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep, showing his deep love and sacrifice. Just as sheep rely on their shepherd for direction and security, we can trust Jesus to lead us and provide for our needs, even in the midst of life's uncertainties.

Jesus brings light into a world filled with darkness, offering truth, direction, and clarity to those who follow him. Without his light, people stumble in confusion and sin, but with him, there is hope, transformation, and a new way of living. His light not only reveals what's true but also leads to a deeper relationship with God and a purpose-filled life.

This matters because it reminds us to seek God when we feel lost, make choices that reflect his truth, and be a light to those around us. Whether at work, at home, or in tough situations, following Jesus helps us navigate challenges with confidence and share hope with others.

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• "There's got to be more to life than this." - 60 Minutes

God's goodness comes from who he is—compassionate, gracious, and slow to anger—standing in contrast to the effects of sin. This encourages us to stay curious, ask deeper questions about his nature, and recognize the blessings that reflect his goodness. Trusting in his character brings comfort and hope in hard times, and a childlike wonder helps us see the beauty of God's goodness in our lives.

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• "That God is good is taught or implied on every page of the Bible. It is a foundation stone for all sound thought about God. The goodness of God is the drive behind all the blessings he daily bestows upon us. God created us because he felt good in his heart, and he redeemed us for the same reason." - A.W. Tozer

• "If you took the love of all the best mothers and fathers who have lived in the course of human history, all their goodness, kindness, patience, fidelity, wisdom, tenderness, strength, and love and united all those qualities in a single person, that person's love would only be a faint shadow of the furious love and mercy in the heart of God the Father addressed to you and me at this moment." -Brennan Manning, The Furious Longing of God

When Jesus calls himself the "Bread of Life" and offers true fulfillment, many push back—showing they're more interested in what he can give them than in truly knowing him. This challenges us to check our own hearts and ask why we seek him. Are we chasing quick fixes, or are we ready to embrace the deep, life-changing relationship he offers?

The start of this new series on the I AM statements of Jesus takes us back to the burning bush in Exodus 3, where God reveals his presence to Moses. This scene is all about God stepping into our lives, especially during tough times. Fast forward to the moment when Jesus walks on water and declares "I AM" linking back to that same foundational truth about God. Both instances highlight how God is not distant or disconnected, but rather intimately involved in our lives and struggles. In this series we will unpack these profound connections, reminding us that just as God was with Moses in a powerful, personal way, he continues to be present with us through Jesus, reinforcing his commitment to walk alongside us, especially in our most challenging moments.

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• Scot McKnight, Professor at Northern Seminary, The Jesus We'll Never Know, Christianity Today, April 2010
• "You can safely assume that you have created God in your own image when it turns out God hates all the same people you do." - Anne Lamott
• The Prince of Egypt

Hospitality goes beyond hosting meals—it's about creating a space where everyone feels seen and valued, just as the Good Samaritan cared for a stranger in need. By stepping beyond our comfort zones to embrace outsiders, we build deeper connections that foster unity and compassion in a divided world.

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• Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara
• "Hospitality isn't to change people but to offer them a space where change can take place." - Henry Nouwen

True community reflects the heart of Jesus—it's about showing up, being vulnerable, and carrying each other's burdens. Life isn't meant to be lived alone, and real connection happens when we move beyond surface-level interactions and embrace authentic relationships. Jesus calls us to a love that stands out—a love that forgives freely, sacrifices selflessly, and welcomes unconditionally. When we love as Jesus loves, it not only transforms our relationships but also reveals his presence to the world.

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• The U.S. Surgeon General's Study on Loneliness—Loneliness has severe health effects, equating social isolation to smoking 15 cigarettes a day and having a greater impact on health than obesity or physical inactivity.
• "You cannot follow Jesus alone. Not should not, but cannot." - John Mark Comer
• "God's family is meant to be the show-and-tell of what true belonging and love look like." - Adele Calhoun

In today's fast-paced world, the constant push for productivity can overshadow the importance of being present and connected to something greater. Instead of merely focusing on accomplishing tasks, we can embrace stillness and intentionally seek God's presence. This can lead to deeper personal growth and fulfillment. By prioritizing relationships and prayer over endless to-do lists, we can experience a richer, more meaningful life, where true transformation occurs in the quiet moments of connection and awareness.

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• "The first and most basic thing we can and must do is to keep God before our mind. This is the fundamental secret of caring for our souls." - Dallas Willard
• Jesus Changes Everything Devotional

Thinking about who you're becoming can be a pretty eye-opening experience. We're all influenced by the stuff we engage with daily—what we watch, the people we hang around, and even social media. If we're not careful, these influences can steer us away from who we really want to be. By focusing on self-denial and putting others first, we can shift our mindset from just chasing personal happiness to finding deeper fulfillment in our relationships and faith. It's about more than just knowing Bible verses; we need to live them out in our daily lives. This means surrounding ourselves with supportive friends, stepping out of our comfort zones, and being open to the changes God wants to make in us. Ultimately, it's about making a conscious effort every day to reflect Christ's love in our actions and choices, allowing that transformation to shape who we are becoming. So, let's honestly ask ourselves—are we clinging to our comfort zones, or are we ready to take that leap of faith?

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• "There are no accidental saints. You can't just slip your hand up at the end of a sermon. It's a high bar to entry. It will require you to reorder your entire life around following Jesus as your undisputed top priority: over your job, your money, your reputation—over everything. Yet all these things will find their rightful place once integrated into a life of apprenticeship." - John Mark Comer
• Jesus Changes Everything Devotional

Our connection with Jesus grants us a transformative new identity that reshapes our lives. Instead of being defined by our past mistakes or societal expectations, we are invited to embrace our worth as children of God, which empowers us to overcome unhealthy habits and live with renewed purpose. This change is profound, moving beyond mere resolutions to an internal transformation that aligns our values and actions with Christ's teachings. By understanding our identity in Jesus, we can navigate life's challenges with security and confidence, ultimately allowing us to live authentically and impactfully as we reflect his love and purpose in our daily lives.

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• "Without knowledge of self, there is no knowledge of God. Our wisdom, insofar as it ought to be deemed true and solid wisdom, consists almost entirely of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves. But as these are connected by many ties, it is not easy to determine which of the two precedes and gives birth to the other." - John Calvin
• "In the pressure of everyday life, we are so easily able to forget who we are and what we have been given in Christ. We often live in a state of Gospel Amnesia." - Paul David Tripp

REMINDER AND PRAYER:

• In Christ we are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).
• In Christ we are a child of God (Galatians 3:26).
• In Christ we are adopted (Ephesians 1:5).
• In Christ we are the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21).
• In Christ we are chosen and holy and blameless (Ephesians 1:4).
• In Christ we are free from condemnation (Romans 8:1).
• In Christ we are redeemed (Ephesians 1:7).
• In Christ we are forgiven (Ephesians 1:7).
• In Christ we are given access to every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 1:3).
• In Christ we are given eternal life (Romans 6:23).
• We are justified in Christ (1 Corinthians 6:11).
• In Christ we are given an everlasting inheritance (Ephesians 1:11).
• In Christ we are sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13).
• In Christ we are made complete and whole (Colossians 2:10).
• In Christ we are reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:19).
• In Christ we are seated in the heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6).
• In Christ we are made dead to sin and alive to God (Romans 6:11).
• In Christ we are hidden with God (Colossians 3:3).
• In Christ we are washed and sanctified (1 Corinthians 6:11).
• In Christ we are empowered to do wonders (Philippians 4:13).
• In Christ we are one body and one people (romans 12:5).
• In Christ we are victorious (1 Corinthians 15:57).
• In Christ we are being transformed in to the image of Jesus with ever-increasing glory (2 Corinthians 3:18).
• In Christ we are given a mission and a purpose.
• In Christ we are created to do God works (Ephesians 2:10).
• In Christ we are loved with an unbreakable love (Romans 8:39).
• In Christ we are secured for an eternal hope as an anchor for our souls (6:19).
• In Christ we find our belonging (many).
• In Christ we have our hope (many).
• In Christ we are given victory over sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:57).

The story of Jesus' birth in Luke 2:1-20 reminds us that hope and joy are for everyone, no matter our background or struggles. God chose humble shepherds to share this life-changing news, showing that his love reaches us all.

In the rush of life, it's easy to lose the wonder of Christmas. But when we look at it with fresh eyes, it reminds us that light shines in the darkness, offering hope and joy to anyone open to it. It's a simple but powerful reminder to embrace the season with gratitude and wonder.

God's love is relentless and deeply personal, like a parent teaching a child to walk. Even when we fail or turn away, his compassion never wavers. Jesus embodies this love as the faithful Son, stepping into our brokenness to bring hope and redemption. In this season, reflect on the depth of God's grace, embrace his forgiveness, and trust that his presence meets us in both our struggles and joys. As we live in the tension between present challenges and the promise of restoration, may we find renewed intimacy with him and the courage to walk in his love.

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• "The disappointment and brokenness, suffering and pain that characterize life in this present world is held in dynamic tension with the promise of future glory that is yet to come next. In that advent tension, the church lives its life." - Fleming Rutledge

Isaiah's prophecy about Emmanuel, "God with us," offers a timeless reminder to trust God's promises over human solutions, a challenge that resonates deeply in today's world. In a time when uncertainty and fear often lead people to rely on political strategies, personal ingenuity, or quick fixes, the call to place faith in God feels especially relevant. Just as Ahaz faced the choice between trusting God or turning to political alliances, we are often faced with decisions that test where we place our hope. The fulfillment of this prophecy in Jesus demonstrates God's commitment to be present with us, offering guidance, comfort, and salvation. It invites us to practice patience, surrender to His will, and draw strength from His presence as we navigate the complexities of this life.

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• "How can you cope with the end of the world and the beginning of another one? How can you put an earthquake into a test tube or the sea into a bottle? How can you live with the terrifying thought that the hurricane has become human, that fire has become flesh, that life itself came to life and walked in our midst? Christianity either means that, or it means nothing. It is either the most devastating disclosure of the deepest reality in the world, or it is a sham. It is nonsense, a bit of deceitful play acting. Most of us, unable to cope with saying either of those things, condemn ourselves to live in the shadow world in between. We may not be content there, but we do not know how to escape. The virgin birth is how the child comes to us, fully God, so that He has the quality in Himself and in his blood to pay for the sins of the world and whoever believes, but yet being man, can make himself killable, and voluntarily lay down his life to save us." - N.T. Wright
• C.S. Lewis said of Jesus, "He's a liar or a lunatic on the level of a man who thinks he is a poached egg, or the Lord."

• "When the president does it, that means that it is not illegal." - Richard Nixon

• "The death of one man is a tragedy. The death of millions is a statistic." - Joseph Stalin

• "It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both." - Machiavelli

• "Would I rather be feared or loved? Easy. Both. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me." - Michael Scott

The Advent season is a reminder of God's faithfulness and the hope found in Jesus. It's about focusing on relationships, making space to grieve losses, and remembering that God keeps his promises. The image of a gentle shepherd leading with strength and care encourages trust and hope, especially during the busy holiday season. It's a time to prepare our hearts, reflect on what truly matters, and celebrate the love and sacrifice of Christ.

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• "We have sinned, and we have grown old, and our heavenly Father is younger than we are." - G.K. Chesterton
• "How come these fairy tales do not die out? I mean, we have studied them and given our entire lives to them, and we have said they are fairy tales. Why do not they die out?" - C.S. Lewis
• J.R.R. Tolkien's answer: He said to Lewis about why it was this way: "These fairy tales are not true factually. They are actually getting to underlying realities, and every fairy tale has these three things in common," according to Tolkien. One, "This world is under an evil spell." Our problems are not going to be dealt with by education, science, technology and politics. Folks, we know we just can't fix it. There's something broken deep inside of us. Second, these fairy tale stories point to this material world not being all there is. There is a depth, something deeper in reality, and third, it takes sacrificial love to save the universe. There is more than meets the eye in what can save the universe. Tolkien said that all human beings have a memory trace. "They sense this deep down, and that is why fairy tales never, never die, and that is why," C.S. Lewis, the atheist, "you are unsettled," and then Tolkien says, "It gets you, because you are getting a glimpse of the joy behind the walls of the world, poignant as grief." C.S. Lewis responded, "I never heard the Christian story shared this way, as a story that points to all underlying realities," and then Tolkien said, "No, Jesus Christ is the underlying reality to which all other stories point." Not long after, C.S. Lewis gave his life to Jesus Christ. He had a famous quote that came out of those early conversion days. He said, "I believe in Christianity as I believe in the sun, because not only do I by its light see everything else, but I also see how everything else makes sense."

Life's challenges call for gratitude, resilience, and a commitment to faith, hope, and grace. In the face of chaos and opposition, it's important to stay grounded, resist negativity, and trust that difficulties are temporary and restoration will come. Grace is always present, inclusive, and transformative, offering strength to move forward and unite with others. Living with purpose means embracing faith in every aspect of life, especially during tough times, and reflecting hope and grace to those around us.

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• "Grace is love that seeks you out when you have nothing to give in return. Grace is love coming at you that has nothing to do with you. Grace is being loved when you are unlovable. The cliche description of grace is unconditional love, and it is a true cliche, for it is a good description of a good thing. Grace is irrational, in the sense that it has nothing to do with weights or measures. Grace is terrible math. It has nothing to do with my intrinsic qualities or my so-called gifts, whatever they may be. Grace is one-way love. Grace does not make demands. It just gives, and from our vantage point, it always gives to the wrong person." - Preston Sprinkle

Pastoral leadership is a calling to shepherd the church with integrity and a genuine heart, especially in challenging times. It emphasizes the importance of community through small groups, the unique role of church elections, and the relevance of Scripture, such as 1 Peter, in navigating chaos. Pastors are called to serve eagerly and willingly, avoiding dishonesty and modeling Christ-like servant leadership to inspire and guide their congregations.

In this episode Waterstone pastors, Larry Renoe and Paul Joslin, have their final conversation on the podcast and discuss the recent presidential election with hopes to provide a space to process this 2024 political season.

Suffering as a Christian is seen as a way God shapes and strengthens our faith, giving purpose to hard times instead of them being pointless. It also connects us to a bigger family of believers, including those throughout history who stayed faithful through struggles. In those moments, the Holy Spirit shows up in powerful ways to help us keep going. Hard times can also reveal the depth of our faith, showing who's truly committed versus just going through the motions. God uses these challenges to grow our character, putting more value on who we're becoming than how comfortable we are. We're also called to share our faith openly, even when it's risky, as a way to show how Christ changes lives. Through it all, we can trust God is in control and let Him carry the weight of what we're going through.

As the end of all things draws near, believers are called to live purposefully according to God’s will, emphasizing prayer, love, and service. Especially during divisive times like the election cycle, unity through prayer becomes essential to foster peace and order. With this sense of urgency, believers are encouraged to use their spiritual gifts to serve others, practice hospitality, and cultivate a loving community that both reflects Christ’s love and prepares for his return.

REFERENCES:

• "We do not naturally drift to better habits of prayer." - D.A. Carson
• Lectio 365 App

Waterstone's Lead Pastor, Larry Renoe, interviews Dr. Scott Klingsmith, who is the Assistant Professor of Intercultural Studies at Denver Seminary and also has over 35 years of missions experience overseas. Scott brings a global perspective to our podcast this episode and the focus of their conversation is on the history of Christians in politics. What has the political engagement of Christians throughout history looked like and how should Christians engage today? They also cover the much debated topic of whether or not America is a Christian nation. We hope this is a helpful discussion as we approach the presidential election in November 2020 and again in 2024.

A rerun of episode 2, season 2 from 2020 where we hear from Waterstone's Lead Pastor, Larry Renoe, and Teaching Pastor, Paul Joslin. Their conversation doesn't tell you WHO to vote for but HOW, and recognizes the tension that we encounter when filling out our ballots. Our voting options at the polls often feel incongruent with our personal beliefs and don't quite reflect our convictions. We like to think of voting and politics as being a space of self-expression, however, our consciences don't always align with our parties and choices. This tension often causes us to feel that our integrity is threatened. So, what should we do? How do we vote? Join us for the conversation.

The controversial topic of 1 Peter 2:18-25 highlights the call for Christians to submit to authority, even when it's unfair, following Christ's example of enduring suffering. It encourages believers to trust God's justice during tough times, knowing that how they respond shows their faith. This kind of submission is active, not passive, and can lead to personal growth. Christ's response to injustice sets a powerful example for facing trials with patience and integrity. How believers handle hardship can serve as a witness to others, bringing glory to God and offering healing to a hurting world.

A look at 1 Peter 2:13-17 highlights how Christians are called to respect authority as part of their faith. It also emphasizes the need to live good, respectful lives and reminds us that real freedom comes from serving God, not just doing whatever we want.

We first aired this episode in October 2020 and it is surprisingly still very applicable to our current political environment. We live in a country where our Gospel-identity is challenged by our political system. With heightened cultural stress about an election we find ourselves being weighed down by fear or misplacing our hope in a political candidate. How do we navigate this tension and remain true to our identity in Christ? Paul Joslin, Teaching Pastor at Waterstone Church, and Dr. Mark Young, President of Denver Seminary, take on this important conversation.

Believers are like living stones, actively building a spiritual community that highlights the interconnectedness of faith. Each person plays a part in the overall structure of the church, showing unity through diversity. At the core of this is the importance of Jesus as the cornerstone, meaning that all aspects of life should align with His teachings. When we build our lives on Him, we can withstand external pressures and the chaos of society.

As followers of Jesus, we should expect rejection since our values often clash with mainstream culture. Understanding this helps us prepare for the challenges we'll face in our faith journey. Along with that, embracing our identity as exiles—foreigners in this world—helps us navigate a society that often feels unfamiliar. This perspective encourages us to live distinctly while still engaging with the world around us.

Transformation through the Gospel is also key. Peter's shift from a nationalist mindset to accepting Gentiles shows just how radical the Gospel is. It reshapes our understanding of community and belonging. Living well doesn't have to involve grand gestures; rather, it's about being faithful in everyday actions, fulfilling God's purpose through simple acts of love and service.

Ultimately, the foundation of our faith rests in building our lives on Jesus. This helps us find genuine fulfillment and challenges us to evaluate what we prioritize, ensuring it aligns with our faith.

Being "born again" in Christ is a spiritual rebirth that reshapes a believer's entire identity. It emphasizes the call to live holy and set-apart lives, not by personal effort alone but through the empowering grace of God. This transformation involves leaving behind old ways of thinking and acting, and embracing a new life that reflects the character and love of Christ. It's a reminder that holiness is not about perfection, but about growing in grace and aligning one's life with God's will, allowing His Spirit to work through us in everyday actions and decisions.

REFERENCES:

• In Case You Are Attacked By An Anaconda Peace Corps Manual
• The Precious Blood, The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers

Followers of Jesus are called to live as exiles in a culture that often pressures them to conform, this urges Christians to remain steadfast in their identity in Christ. Despite the challenges, believers are called to live in a way that reflects their faith through good deeds, especially in the presence of non-believers. These actions serve as a powerful testimony, demonstrating the love and grace of Christ, even in a world that may not share the same values. Holding onto one's true identity in Christ enables believers to navigate cultural pressures with integrity and purpose.

REFERENCES:

• Stephen Ministry: Stephen Ministers provide free, confidential, one-on-one Christian care during difficult times, tragedy or crisis. This can include anything, such as grief, job loss, divorce, health issues, etc. They are skillfully trained to listen, care and provide resources before, during or after many of life's challenges.
• 1 Peter: How do we live as God's people in a culture that is becoming more difficult and more hostile, more pressurized towards followers of Christ?

Ephesians 2:1-10 reminds us that God's grace is a gift, and we're called to reflect his love through how we live. Our mission as a church is to become like Jesus and live for others, which encourages us to turn our faith into action by caring for those around us. Jeanie Wilking shared her story and in it showed us that our personal calling can change over time, and that even the small, everyday things we do can be sacred when offered to God.

REFERENCES:

• "I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast! And when I run I feel his pleasure." - Eric Liddell
• Life of the Beloved by Henri Nouwen
• Open Door Fellowship
• The Gospel Comes with a House Key by Rosaria Butterfield
• Lectio 365 app

Communion is a sacred practice that helps us remember Jesus and strengthens our connection with the church community. Drawing from 1 Corinthians 11:17-26, it speaks to the challenges and divisions within the church, encouraging spiritual practices that align our beliefs with our actions. It also highlights the importance of grace and forgiveness. When we partake in the Lord's Supper, we are reminded of what is truly real: God's love and sacrifice.

REFERENCES:

• "God is God because He remembers." - Eli Wassel
• The Ragman by Walter Wangerin
• Remember what is real.

The gospel of Jesus is good news for everyone—regardless of background, questions, or past. Throughout Scripture, we see God's heart for inclusion, welcoming all people into his family. The story of the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8 is a powerful example, showing that faith isn't limited by culture, status, or circumstance. The Church is called to reflect that same openness—a place where doubts are welcomed, struggles are met with grace, and every person is invited into the hope and transformation found in Christ.

REFERENCES:

• "Baptism reminds us that there is no ladder to holiness to climb, no self-improvement plan to follow. It is just death and resurrection, over and over again, day after day, as God reaches down into our deepest graves and with the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, wrests us from our pride, our apathy, our fear, our prejudice, our anger, our hurt, and our despair." - Rachel Held Evans

The Holy Spirit's work is what distinguishes the church from any other organization, making it vibrant and alive. Despite the church's imperfections, the presence of the Spirit ensures its continual growth and impact globally.

REFERENCES:

• Maris College Mindset List - Class of 2027
• "To joyfully gather is indeed a serious affair, for feasting and all enjoyments gratefully taken are at their heart, acts of war. In celebrating this feast, we declare that evil and death, suffering and loss, sorrow and tears will not have the final word, but the joy of fellowship and the welcome and comfort of friends new and old, and the celebration of these blessings of food and drink and conversation and laughter are the true evidences of things eternal and are the first fruits of that great and glad joy that is to come." Every Moment Holy
• "If your parents are getting old, and you do not know how to bring up the topic of what to do with all your stuff, I would suggest you pay them a visit, sit down, and ask some of the following questions in a gentle way.
  1. How many nice things have you thought about what you want to do with it all later on?
  2. Do you enjoy having all this stuff?
  3. Could life be easier and less tiresome if we got rid of some of this stuff that you have collected over the years?
  4. Is there anything we can do together in a slow way, so that there will not be too many things to handle later?"
  If you are too scared to be a little impolite with your parents, and you do not dare raise the topic or ask them questions to help them think about how they want to handle their things, do not be surprised if you get stuck with it all later on," and then the best line in the book. Here it is: "A loved one wishes to inherit nice things from you, not all things from you." The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning
• Steve! (martin) - Documentary, Apple TV

Church community is important, along with the unique, Holy Spirit-empowered gifts each member brings for collective healing and strength. The church's resilience in the face of internal hurt illustrates its dual nature of causing and healing pain. Ultimately, the church is a vessel of hope and healing, celebrating its diversity and encouraging individuals to discover and use their gifts for the greater good.

REFERENCES:

• Church Leaders Need Renewal Today Like Never Before, Mark Brouwer, medium.com
• Pastors Are People Too, by Jimmy Dodd

We're exploring the complexities and challenges of the church. Trying to engage honest conversations about church hurt and spiritual abuse, acknowledging both the inevitable pain and the unacceptable trauma inflicted by religious institutions. Through these discussions, we're seeking to create a space for hope and healing, emphasizing that while the church is flawed, it remains a place where Jesus resides and where restoration can be found.

REFERENCES:

• "Spiritual abuse is a distortion and exploitation of spiritual authority to manipulate, control, use, or harm others, mostly through shame and fear. Spiritual abuse include intolerance for questions and doubts, using the Bible to arouse fear and rigid 'l vs. them' binaries, and leaders who demand unwavering loyalty, often threatening anyone who doesn't comply with being cut off from the community or God." - Rachael Clinton Chen

• "This is the church. Here she is. Lovely, irregular, sometimes sick and sometimes well. This is the body-like-no-other that God has shaped and placed in the world. Jesus lives here; this is his soul's address. There is a lot to be thankful for, all things considered. She has taken a beating, the church. Every day she meets the gates of hell and she prevails. Every day she serves, stumbles, injures, and repairs. That she has healed is an underrated miracle. That she gives birth is beyond reckoning. Maybe it's time to make peace with her. Maybe it's time to embrace her, flawed as she is." - Rachel Held Evans

Self-control, essential for spiritual growth, reflects the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in our lives, emphasizing the need for divine strength over personal effort. Overcoming internal struggles and desires involves crucifying the flesh, recognizing true freedom through faith in Christ, and relying on the Spirit's guidance rather than cultural self-fulfillment methods. Daily prayer for the Spirit's influence fosters heart transformation, enabling believers to resist temptation and produce the fruit of the Spirit.

REFERENCES:

• "You're body isn't a temple, it's an amusement park. Enjoy the ride." - Anthony Bourdain
• "Following Jesus is about those moments where you have that decision to make between the flesh and the Spirit. Following Jesus is a thousand small deaths that lead to one massive life." - John Mark Comer
• John Stott's Prayer: "Heavenly Father, I pray this day I may live in your presence and please you more and more. Lord Jesus, I pray that this day I may take up my cross and follow you. Holy Spirit, I pray that this day you will fill me with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."

Being gentle goes against the grain of all the outrage we see around us. The Bible and the fruit of the Spirit from Galatians show us how important this is. Take the story of the woman anointing Jesus—her gentleness was all about strength under control, not weakness. We definitely need God's help to be like that. When our communities embrace gentleness, it can totally change how we interact and help spread love, joy, and peace in a world full of anger.

Fasting & Prayer

Throughout this series we encourage you to participate as we collectively fast and pray on Wednesdays. This practice could look different depending on your season of life, but we encourage you to fast breakfast and/or lunch and spend some time in prayer in the morning or during your normal lunch break. This will be a renewing opportunity for all of us as a church. If you would like to be reminded via text, we can send you a weekly prompt.

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Fasting & Prayer

Throughout this series we encourage you to participate as we collectively fast and pray on Wednesdays. This practice could look different depending on your season of life, but we encourage you to fast breakfast and/or lunch and spend some time in prayer in the morning or during your normal lunch break. This will be a renewing opportunity for all of us as a church. If you would like to be reminded via text, we can send you a weekly prompt.

TEXT SIGN-UP

Experiencing God's goodness is not about achieving perfection but about recognizing and accepting our brokenness as the space where God's grace and healing are most evident. Adhering to checklist morality and striving for a "good life" often result in unfulfillment and disappointment, revealing the limitations of human efforts in the quest for goodness. So, this is where we can experience the true strength of the church community because as a whole it can embody and disseminate God's goodness through its actions and meaningful relationships. Ultimately, the brokenness of Jesus on the cross profoundly illustrates the depth of God's goodness by demonstrating his willingness to endure suffering and sacrifice for the sake of our redemption, offering us healing and salvation through his wounds.

References:

• "Valuing happiness could be self-defeating, because the more people value happiness, the more likely they will feel disappointed.";Can Seeking Happiness Make People Happy? Paradoxical Effects of Valuing Happiness, by Iris B. Mauss, Maya Tamir, Craig L. Anderson, & Nicole S. Savino, The National Library of Medicine
• "He, Jesus, is the only savior with glorified wounds, and through them, the light of new creation shines into our broken world." - Makoto Fujimura
• Makoto Fujimura, Kintsugi art

Fasting & Prayer:

Throughout this series we encourage you to participate as we collectively fast and pray on Wednesdays. This practice could look different depending on your season of life, but we encourage you to fast breakfast and/or lunch and spend some time in prayer in the morning or during your normal lunch break. This will be a renewing opportunity for all of us as a church. If you would like to be reminded via text, we can send you a weekly prompt.

TEXT SIGN-UP

Fasting & Prayer

Throughout this series we encourage you to participate as we collectively fast and pray on Wednesdays. This practice could look different depending on your season of life, but we encourage you to fast breakfast and/or lunch and spend some time in prayer in the morning or during your normal lunch break. This will be a renewing opportunity for all of us as a church. If you would like to be reminded via text, we can send you a weekly prompt.

TEXT SIGN-UP

Endure hardships with patience and forbearance, following the example of Christ, to show love to others and grow in faith. When we demonstrate love and endurance during tough times it can lead others to Christ, and walking by the Spirit, not the flesh, empowers us to overcome challenges with grace.

References:

• "Lord, I'm down here trying to do what's right...But...I must confess...I'm losing my courage." - Martin Luther King, Jr.
• "I want you to love our enemies. Be good to them, love them, and let them know you love them." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Fasting & Prayer:

Throughout this series we encourage you to participate as we collectively fast and pray on Wednesdays. This practice could look different depending on your season of life, but we encourage you to fast breakfast and/or lunch and spend some time in prayer in the morning or during your normal lunch break. This will be a renewing opportunity for all of us as a church. If you would like to be reminded via text, we can send you a weekly prompt.

TEXT SIGN-UP

Peace is about feeling whole and connected to God, which requires effort to push past our natural urges to avoid conflict or be aggressive. It's something we're meant to share to create harmony and unity. The Spirit helps us fight against our destructive tendencies. Embracing peace means becoming a peacemaker in a chaotic world, spreading love, forgiveness, and understanding.

References:

• "We are not at peace with others because we are not at peace with ourselves. We are not at peace with ourselves because we are not at peace with God." - Thomas Merton
• Twister, 1996 Movie & Twisters, 2024 Movie
• Kudzu: The Invasive Vine that Ate the South, The Nature Conservancy, 2019

• "Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen." - Francis of Assisi Prayer

Fasting & Prayer:

Throughout this series we encourage you to participate as we collectively fast and pray on Wednesdays. This practice could look different depending on your season of life, but we encourage you to fast breakfast and/or lunch and spend some time in prayer in the morning or during your normal lunch break. This will be a renewing opportunity for all of us as a church. If you would like to be reminded via text, we can send you a weekly prompt.

TEXT SIGN-UP

True joy stems from an inner work and a choice to adopt a joyful attitude, with the presence of God as its source, cultivated through practices like prayer, scripture reading, and worship. It acknowledges the reality of sorrow and grief, encouraging surrender to God and finding hope in His promises, while highlighting gratitude and intentional thought management as key factors in fostering joy. Personal experiences of loss and grief provide context for exploring joy amidst difficult circumstances.

References:

• A Grace Disguised Revised and Expanded: How the Soul Grows Through Loss, by Jerry Sittser

Fasting & Prayer:

Throughout this series we encourage you to participate as we collectively fast and pray on Wednesdays. This practice could look different depending on your season of life, but we encourage you to fast breakfast and/or lunch and spend some time in prayer in the morning or during your normal lunch break. This will be a renewing opportunity for all of us as a church. If you would like to be reminded via text, we can send you a weekly prompt.

TEXT SIGN-UP

The ongoing struggle between fleshly desires and spiritual fruit highlights the crucial need to cultivate spiritual virtues: love, joy peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. By walking in the Spirit, being led by the Spirit, and living by the Spirit, we can overcome this tension and experience a fulfilling life in Jesus. Fasting is a practical way to discipline our flesh and invite the Spirit's transformative work. We invite you to join us in a community fast, fostering spiritual growth and unity throughout this summer series.

Fasting & Prayer:

Throughout this series we encourage you to participate as we collectively fast and pray on Wednesdays. This practice could look different depending on your season of life, but we encourage you to fast breakfast and/or lunch and spend some time in prayer in the morning or during your normal lunch break. This will be a renewing opportunity for all of us as a church. If you would like to be reminded via text, we can send you a weekly prompt.

TEXT SIGN-UP

Today we explore and celebrate the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in global missions, and recognize that the same divine power that created the universe and revived the Israelites is within each of us who follow Jesus. By relying on the Holy Spirit and following his guidance, you can experience personal renewal and contribute to bringing new life to the world. This journey promises spiritual growth, deeper faith, and can have a profound impact on global communities.

God's heart in Leviticus and in Jesus has always been the same: to make a way for sinful people to be in relationship with Him. Leviticus shows that blessings come from obedience and curses from disobedience, but God's ultimate desire is for reconciliation and restoration. Jesus fulfills the law and brings God's presence to us, offering forgiveness and a path to abundant life.

The teachings of Leviticus highlight the importance of astonishing generosity and empowering the poor and immigrants. This involves intentional financial planning to support those in need and building relationships that provide growth opportunities, reflecting God's love through sacrificial actions. By following the early church's example, we can challenge traditional economic systems and make a significant impact in modern society.

Let's reflect God's love by practicing astonishing generosity and empowering the poor and immigrant in our communities. Plan your finances to allocate resources for those in need and build supportive relationships that foster growth and development.

The Day of Atonement stands as the cornerstone of Leviticus, rich with rituals and symbolism that stress the cleansing of sin. Amidst misconceptions about God's character, we aim to see The Day of Atonement as a ritual full of his love and grace in handling sin's consequences. We also see the parallels between Leviticus and the New Testament teachings, which ultimately; point to Jesus as the complete sacrifice for believer's atonement.

References:

• Leviticus by Tim Mackie & The Bible Project

The book of Leviticus is about demonstrating God's holiness and life to the world. Today we focus on Leviticus 18, where we find the importance of embodying God's values in sexual practices to reflect His goodness. Additional context is also shared from the book of Genesis and the work of theologian Rebecca McLaughlin.

References:

• Washed and Waiting by Wesley Hill
• "4 Things Christians Must Reclaim" video, The Gospel Coalition, 2019, Rebecca McLoughlin

In this sermon on Leviticus, we unpack "embodied holiness" and its relevance today. Holiness isn't just about following rules but showing respect and dedication to God. Today we live post-resurrection, so our understanding of God's presence is different than ancient Israel. We have the opportunity to see Jesus as the epitome of holiness, and his ability to enable transformation through surrender.

References:

• "" by Sonseed
• Bible Project
• Atomic Habits by James Clear

Easter Sunday reminds us of the early Christians' radical love and how Christianity spread like wildfire—clear evidence of how Jesus' resurrection transformed their lives. Who exactly was Jesus, and what was his mission? For generations, his life, death, and resurrection have compelled people to grapple with accepting him as divine or rejecting him altogether. So, what's the significance of his resurrection, and how does it shape our lives today and tomorrow?

References:

• The Rise of Christianity, by Rodney Stark
• "If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world." - C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Palm Sunday is the day we commemorate the time that Jesus entered into Jerusalem on the back of donkey. The disciples spread their cloaks on the donkey for Jesus to sit on, and the multitudes came out to welcome him, laying before Jesus their cloaks and the branches of palm trees. The palm branches and cloaks symbolized Jesus' victory and triumph. The people hailed and praised Him as the “King who comes in the name of the Lord”.

After welcoming Jesus triumphantly into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the people expected him to overthrow Roman rule and establish an earthly kingdom. However, when Jesus didn't fulfill these expectations and instead challenged religious authorities, disillusionment set in, leading to their eventual rejection of him and his crucifixion on Good Friday.

Just as the people of Jerusalem anticipated a certain outcome from Jesus and grew disillusioned when it didn't materialize, sometimes we experience similar disappointment, doubt, or even anger towards God when our prayers seem unanswered or when life doesn't unfold as we hoped. Therefore, faith often involves surrendering our own expectations and trusting in God's greater purpose, even when it's not immediately clear or aligns with our desires.

References:

• Food Pantry at Waterstone
• "Disappointment is unmet expectations, and the more significant the expectations, the more significant the disappointment." - Brene Brown
• "Maybe you picture God as a heavenly bellhop whose job is to satisfy your deepest desires. Or perhaps God is a holy matchmaker who will secure you a spouse. Maybe God is a cosmic bodyguard who protects you from harm. Or the world's best nanny, making sure your children turn out right. Or a divine doctor, healing your every physical and mental ailment. Or a wonder-working accountant, solving all your financial problems." - Jonathan Merritt, Palm Sunday and the Gift of Disillusionment, Christianity Today

Loving our enemies challenges us to mirror God's love by promoting love for all. As followers of Jesus we should confront societal norms and illustrate the counterintuitive nature of God's kingdom. Ultimately, let's encourage our community to embrace the challenging, transformative power of love in a world yearning for grace.

References:

Despite Jesus initially showing indifference and making a hurtful remark, the Canaanite woman's steadfast faith and determination ultimately bring about her daughter's healing. From this story we learn that we are called to examine our own biases and preconceptions, and to extend God's grace to everyone we encounter. The gospel's powerful message of inclusivity, challenges us to embrace and welcome others with the same love and acceptance shown by Jesus.

References:

• Map of Tyre & Sidon

• Structure of Matthew 14-15

  • Jesus Feeds the 5,000
  • Jesus Walks on Water
  • Jesus Offends the Pharisees
  • Jesus Offends the Canaanite Woman
  • Jesus Feeds the 4,000

Jesus warned us against greed when we taught on generosity and the over accumulation of possessions. He challenges us to prioritize being rich toward God and to live selflessly, not allowing money to hinder our spiritual growth. Instead, he prompts us to embrace the tension, constantly questioning, "Could I be more generous?"

Following Jesus is an open invitation for all. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to follow Jesus, although it comes with a price and is a daily decision to become more like him.

If you have decided to follow Jesus, the question is, do you look more like Jesus today than you did yesterday? Do you look like a person who is more filled with love than you were five years ago? Does your presence resemble the joy of Jesus when you interact with other people? Put maybe a different way, when people encounter you, whether that is your spouse or your friends, or the barista, do they experience the presence of Jesus? Does his presence radiate from your being, his love and joy and kindness and generosity? Is that what people encounter when they come in contact with you?

Do you feel a gap between these questions and your reality? What would it look like for you to step into faith and not feel the gap, but to experience more deeply the life Jesus has on offer, the life that we are all longing for, but we are somehow missing out on? What would it look like to say today to say, "Jesus, I am yours"?

References:

• "My secret is that I want to be relevant and popular. I want my desires fulfilled and my pain minimized. I want a manageable relationship with an institution rather than messy relationships with real people. I want to be transformed into the image of Christ by showing up at entertaining events rather than through the hard work of discipline. I want to wear my face on my sleeve and not look at the darkness in my heart, and above all, I want a controllable God. I want a divine commodity to do my will on Earth as well as in heaven." - Skye Jethani, The Divine Commodity
• "I want to be generous, and I want to be rich. I want to follow Jesus and to live like a Hollywood celebrity. I want character, but I don't want the suffering and perseverance that it takes to produce that character. I want humility, but I definitely don't want any form of humiliation. I want patience, but I don't want to actually wait. I want to be a person who is full of kindness, but I don't want anyone in my life who annoys me or agitates me. I want to hear God's voice and to experience his presence in my life, but I don't want to actually get up early in the morning and take the time to focus on prayer. I want the life of Jesus, but I don't want to take up the cross of Jesus." - John Mark Comer

In our lives, we'll face monumental and profound losses, it feel as though we have endured falling towers, but because Jesus bore the weight of the eternal tower, none of the trials will ultimately define us or mark the end of our journey. In addition, these experiences are not a result of our faithfulness or unfaithfulness. The reason hard, tragic and evil things happen is because we live in a broken, fallen world. Jesus calls us to repent, and to realign ourselves with him. In doing this we remember that this world is not our home. Death is not the end, it's a transition point into new life.

References:

• September Twelfth, 2001 Boston poet X.J. Kennedy
• Christopher Plummer, Sound of Music
• "To feel at home in a place, you have to have some prospect of staying there. Your life is a grain of sand on the eternal beach." - Wendell Berry
• "You have nothing in and of yourself. You and I are made of clay and spit. Any holiness of ours is polluted beyond our petty comprehension. I have nothing to offer Him but a bent neck, a neck He has helped me bend. I have nothing to offer Him but filth, and He has taken it and exchanged it for blood, like wine, and his own body, broken like bread. Do you resent this world? Do you hate Him for cancer, for car wrecks and for the sudden shocking sleep of the young? Do you hate Him for those waves that break too high, for those hours when far more than six-thousand die? Do you resent your story, your height, your baldness, your itchy feet, your unstable lower intestine, the forest-fire sunsets, and your own mortality? Buy cream for your wrinkles. Whiten your teeth. Have doctors staple back your scalp until you die and decompose, and only the staples remember you. Go to Him or go to hell. Those are the only two choices, because hell will be wherever He is not." - N.D. Wilson, Notes from Tilt-a-Whirl, 178

Jesus calls us to embrace compassion instead of harsh judgment, urging us to extend empathy and understanding to others. This call doesn't require us to dismiss our principles or beliefs; rather, it encourages us to uphold them with grace and humility. In doing so, we can demonstrate the profound balance of compassion and conviction that Jesus exemplified in his teachings and actions.

References:

• "Alistair Begg Meets the Politically Correct", by Russell Moore, Christianity Today
• "To Judge, or Not To Judge", sermon by Tim Mackie

In Luke 14:26, Jesus uses strong language, saying, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple." This statement is often interpreted metaphorically, emphasizing the radical commitment required to follow Jesus. It underscores the idea that discipleship involves prioritizing one's devotion to God over all other relationships and personal attachments.

*Note: Due to technical difficulties, the first 3 minutes of this sermon was not recorded.

Anxiety at its core, most often refers to an incessant worry or apprehension about what is coming. It’s a fear that surrounds uncertain possibilities or outcomes and affects the way we think and behave. So, what do we do when we are overwhelmed by anxiety? As followers of Jesus how should we respond so that we can experience healing within ourselves, or alongside others?

References:

• Waterstone Care Resources
• Passover Illustration by D.A. Carson
• "It's not the intensity of our faith but the object of our faith that saves." - D.A. Carson, TGC President

Our anger often stems from distorted attachments and misplaced love for things that cannot truly fulfill us. When we prioritize these things above all else,any perceived threat or obstacle becomes a trigger for anger.We react fiercely when they are challenged,threatened,or fail to meet our expectations.This anger is characterized by its intensity, irrationality, and destructive potential. It harms ourselves and others, damaging relationships and hindering personal growth" - The book of Proverbs emphasizes the importance of controlling anger and the benefits of approaching situations with patience and understanding. Anger can be a powerful tool for good and it's crucial to channel it constructively and use it for positive purposes.

References:

• The Deadly Sins/Anger; The Fascination Begins in the Mouth, by Mary Gordon, New York Times, 1993
• "If you have a god who never gets angry, you can't have a god of love, because if you never get angry about anything, you don't love anything." - Rebecca Pippert
• "The essence of sin is disordered love." - St. Augustine
• Sinning Like A Christian by William Willimon

It takes all of us. It's not just up to parents. How can we step into the generation gap with the truth of the gospel, until the truth of the gospel becomes undeniable to the next generation?

References:

• Greatest Gen (before 1925), Silents (born 1925-1945), Boomers (1946-1964), Generation X (1965-1979), Millennials (1980-1994), Generation Z (1995-2012)
• Why parents aren't to blame for the rise in teen depression, by Jean M. Twenge

• "Every Generation has trauma—not every generation has Tik-Tok."

We've all experienced the impact of hurtful words directed at us, and often, the most harmful can be the negative self-talk we engage in. However, there comes a moment when someone enters our lives with the ability to reverse judgments and mend profound wounds in our hearts. Through Christ, God perceives us as righteous, holy, and beautiful. While the world may highlight our flaws, and we acknowledge them, God's love envelops our shortcomings, and His perspective on us is the only one that truly matters.

References:

• The Joy Luck Club, by Amy Tan
• Air Traffic Controller's Slip of the Tongue..., NBC News article
• The Secret Life of Pronouns, by James Pennebaker

The most powerful "yes" often requires an equally powerful "no." So, let us walk this path together, embrace the paradox, and discover the transformative power of saying NO and saying YES to Jesus.

References:

• George Buttrick, Harvard chaplain said students would come into his office, "I don't believe in God." He would disarm: "Tell me what kind of God you don't believe in. I probably don't believe in that God either."
• Bible App
• Lectio 365 App
• 4 Things Christians Must Reclaim, by Rebecca McLaughlin, The Gospel Coalition
• James K.A. Smith, "Of Predators and Planks," Comment Magazine, vol. 35, no. 4, winter 2017, 6-7
• J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospel, (1874), 174

• "The sense that in this universe we are treated as strangers, the longing to be acknowledged, to meet with some response, to bridge some chasm that yawns between us and reality, is part of our inconsolable secret. And surely from this point of view the promise of glory become highly relevant to our deepest desire. For glory means good rapport with God, acceptance by God and welcome into the heart of things. The door on which we have been knocking all of our lives will open at last then our lifelong nostalgia, our longing to be reunited with something in the universe from which we now feel cut off, to be on the inside of some door which we have always seen from the outside, is no mere neurotic fancy but the truest index of our real situation. At present we are on the outside of the world, the wrong side of the door but all the leaves of the New Testament are rustling with the rumor that it will not always be so. Someday, God willing, we shall get in." - C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory and Other Essays, 36-37

Christmas is the day that we are reminded that God is with us. It's the day we remember that God is in the birth of a baby not born in the halls of power or into a life of luxury, but in an old barn to an unwed teen. The good news of Christmas is that God dwelt among us in the most unexpected way—and the world has never been the same.

As believers we remain people of hope by proclaiming the promise of a new heaven and new earth, where God's presence dwells intimately among his people. We celebrate that in heaven there will be no more sorrow, tears, and death, and ultimately creation will be restored to its intended perfection. The New Jerusalem is presented as a beacon of hope, a city of eternal joy and communion with God, inviting us to anticipate a future free from the struggles of the present world.

References:

• "In your life, there is bound to come some trouble that there will be no words for." - Rich Mullins
• The Rise of Christianity by Rodney Stark

• "It was this hope that fueled the early church that made them unstoppable." - Dominion by Tom Holland

• "Hell is other people." - Paul Sartre, French philosopher

• "Well enough about me. How about you? What do you think of me?" - Bette Midler in the movie Beaches
• "How much larger our lives would be if our selves could become smaller in it." - G.K. Chesterton

Jesus gave up the comforts of heaven for the mud and muck of our world. He gave up the realm of holiness to walk amongst sinners. He emptied himself of the glory that has kept us from him so that he might touch us to bring healing and wholeness. What if we had the same mindset as Christ this Christmas? What if, this Christmas, we, as a community tried to lay down some of our expectations? What if we humbled ourselves and gave up some of our rights? What if we, like Jesus, emptied ourselves of expectation so that we could demonstrate Christ’s humility and compassion to those around us? What if we counted the interest of others above our own?

Jesus, who is God, reveals to us the glory of God through the humanity and humility of God. And it is because of this, that Christ is exalted above every other name.

At the heart of the Advent season is the proclamation that God did not remain where he was, high above the misery of his creation, but came down into the midst of it. He was born in the darkness and lived with those who were in the darkness. He understands the pain and sorrow of this world. That a light has come into the world means that Jesus is with us in our moments of darkness.

Whenever we gather together to sing carols, decorate homes, and stir up wonder in one another—it need not be tone deaf. We don’t have to turn a blind eye to the problems we’ve seen in the world. Actually, because of Jesus we can look in the face of darkness and proclaim, “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5.) The darkness never stood a chance and never will. The Light has won.

References:

• "Advent is the season that, when properly understood, does not flinch from the darkness that stalks us all in this world. Advent begins in the dark and moves toward the light—but the season should not move too quickly or too glibly, lest we fail to acknowledge the depth of the darkness. Advent bids us take a fearless inventory of the darkness: the darkness without and the darkness within." - Fleming Rutledge
• "For whatever reason God chose to make man as he is—limited and suffering and subject to sorrows and death—He had the honesty and the courage to take His own medicine. Whatever game He is playing with His creation, He has kept His own rules and played fair. He can exact nothing from man that He has not exacted from Himself. He has Himself gone through the whole of human experience, from the trivial irritations of family life and the cramping restrictions of hard work and lack of money to the worst horrors of pain and humiliation, defeat, despair and death. When He was a man, He played the man. He was born in poverty and died in disgrace and thought it well worthwhile." - Dorothy Sayers
• "Light is the aggressor" - Larry Renoe
• True Detective: Rust reminds Marty of how things are, "You're looking at it wrong, the sky thing. Once there was only dark. You ask me, the light's winning."

Something within us is longing for something beyond us. The purpose of Advent, is to help us get in touch with that longing—an opportunity to reflect and wait on the One who is the face of God. Glory became one of us so that we might become like him.

Reflection:

• Where are you still hiding from God?
• Where are you waiting to see God's face?
• Where are you longing in this Advent season?
• Where is God coming into your life to reveal to you his glory?

References:

• "Advent begins in the dark." - Fleming Rutledge
• Dirty Glory by Pete Greig - The indescribably, untouchable glory of God played in the dirt as an toddler, got dirt in the creases of his hands, rubbed dirt into the eyes of a blind man so that he might see, scribbled in the dirt so an adulterous woman might know she is not condemned but forgiven, and rubbed the dirt from between his disciples toes on the night before he was betrayed.
• Your God is Too Glorious by Chad Bird

In his final message as a Waterstone staff pastor, Nick Lillo articulated three hopes that he has for Waterstone and its future:

• Hope #1 - That Waterstone will always Keep Jesus as King
• Hope #2 - That Waterstone will always be a prevailing church
• Hope #3 - That Waterstone will prevail because we are willing to deny ourselves and practice sacrificial love

May we be a church that pursues others, loves sacrificially, and follows the way of Jesus. King Jesus will build his church and it will prevail through love.

References:

• Images of Caesarea Philippi

• Seville Cathedral - According to local oral tradition, the members of the cathedral chapter said: "Let us build a church so beautiful and so grand that those who see it will take us for mad.” 

The invitation of the Messiah in Jesus is that we can experience change and transformation and freedom from those places in our lives, and it happens through simply surrendering ourselves to Him, but this freedom that Jesus offers, it is not just all He has come to do.

Jesus did not come simply to liberate us from spiritual oppression or from the death and sin that we find ourselves stuck in. He has a grander mission than that. He actually came to overturn the things in this world that are wrong, to set people free within this world, not just liberation someday, but liberation now.

How do we engage in this liberation? We simply need to follow Jesus where He goes, because when you look at Jesus' life and ministry, He always ends up going to the places where there are these people called the least, the people that most others would overlook, the people who are on the margins of society, the people who have nothing to offer the rest of the world, the people who are most desperately in need of jubilee.

The intentional effort of proximity and connection can be powerful and transformative. When we journey with those we think need us it can become a reciprocal exchange, where they bring the spirit of Jubilee to us, initiating profound changes in our lives. Following Jesus into these spaces unveils glimpses of the freedom He offers, sparking inner transformation in the process.

References:

• Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools by Tyler Staton

God assures us of salvation and redemption, expressing an unwavering love that endures despite life's challenges; though we may face difficulties, God remains steadfast in keeping His covenant to love and redeem His people.

Isaiah 53 draws us into a vivid prophetic portrayal of a suffering servant whose sacrificial journey brings spiritual healing and redemption to humanity.

Where are you? What are you going through? If you are asking why God is taking so long to fix things or you're hanging on by a thread, remember there is a God named Jesus, who saw the suffering of the world and didn't abandon us, but stepped in so that by his wounds, our wounds will be healed.

References:

• "Life is much, much more trying than we publicly acknowledge." - Alan Noble
• "We come to understand that here, in this life, all symphonies remain unfinished." - Karl Rahner

Isaiah 40 offers comfort and hope to the Israelites, assuring them of God's presence and power in times of adversity.

References:

• “Either this world, my mother, is a monster, or I myself am a freak. Consider the former: the world is a monster… You say, there is no right and wrong in nature; right and wrong is a human concept. Precisely: we are moral creatures, then, in an amoral world… This view requires that a monstrous world running on chance and death, careening blindly from nowhere to nowhere, somehow produced wonderful us. I crawled out of a sea of amino acids, and now I must whirl around and shake my fist at that sea and cry Shame! [for cruelty]…OR consider the alternative… that it is human feeling that is freakishly amiss… Other creatures manage to have effective matings and even stable societies without great emotions, and they have a bonus in that they need not ever mourn. (But some higher animals have emotions that we think are similar to ours: dogs, elephants, otters, and the sea mammals mourn their dead. Why do that to an otter? What creator could be so cruel, not to kill otters, but to let them care?)… All right then. It is our emotions that are amiss. We are freaks, the world is fine, and let us all go have lobotomies to restore us to a natural state. We can leave the library then go back to the creek, lobotomized, and live on its banks as untroubled as any muskrat or reed. You first.” Annie Dillard, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek

• "Thou art coming to a king; large petitions with thee bring. For his grace and power are such; none can ever ask too much." - John Newton
• "There's a certain slant of light on winter afternoons, That oppresses like the weight of cathedral tunes. Heavenly hurt it gives us, we can find no scar, But internal difference where the meanings are." - Emily Dickinson, There's a Certain Slant of Light

The all-consuming human pursuit of the self has destroyed bonds of life. So, Isaiah contrasts their choice: trusting in nations results in a desert; trusting in God results in a garden. Isaiah 35 is a poem that describes a future kingdom brought by a future messianic King who will put all things right. Christians believe that King is Jesus, who makes deserts bloom.

References:

• "Until recent times, human beings usually had a permanent community of relatives. They had dozens of homes to go to. So, when a married couple had a fight, one or the other could go to a house three doors down and stay with a close relative until he or she was feeling tender again. Or if the kids got fed up with their parents that they couldn't stand it, they could march over to their uncle's for a while. Now this is rarely possible. Each family is locked into its little box...When we ponder what's happening in America, the answer is perfectly simple. We're lonesome. We don't have enough friends or relatives anymore." Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., quoted by Michael Gurian, The Wonder of Boys, 67

Isaiah wrote his book of oracles and prophecy to help the people of God see that God is king in the chaos and the calm. The question for us is, "Do we believe this?" Do we believe that God is king in the midst of the chaos and the calm of our own lives?

References:

• You Are Not Your Own, by Alan Noble
• The City of Man vs. The City of God

In Isaiah chapters 7 & 8, Isaiah describes the coming king as a small shoot of new growth emerging from the old stump of David's family, the holy seed. This king will be empowered by God's Spirit to rule over a new Jerusalem and bring forth justice for the poor. All nations will look to this messianic king for guidance, and his kingdom will transform all creation, bringing peace.

References:

• All We Know of Heaven, by Remy Rougeau
• Christmas by any other name is Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz!
• Conclusion: The world does not need more Christians blowing each other up on social media. The world doesn't need more Christians trying to cozy up to political power. The world doesn't need more Christians who would rather be right than reconciled. The world doesn't need more Christians who are better known for what they are against than what they are for. Know what the world needs? The world needs Christians who proclaim and demonstrate a God who brings light to darkness, who brings joy to despair, who brings freedom to the oppressed, and who brings love over hatred.

When we talk about encountering God, we sometimes live under the assumption that God is so holy that we need to change to be allowed into his presence. However, the story in Isaiah 6 reveals to us is that God is at work making a way for us to be able to experience and encounter him—that there is actually nothing we can do to earn our way into God's presence. It's in his grace and in his mercy that God moves towards us so that we can encounter and experience him.

• Do we want to encounter God?
• Will this encounter shift our perspective, transform us and open our hearts to what is he doing in the world?
• Where do we need to encounter God's presence?
• Where do we need to pray for transformation?
• Where do we need God to open our hearts to what he is doing in the world?

Jesus Christ plunged himself into our lives. He took all the threads of his glory in order to thread himself into our lives to save us from falling through. That's the beauty that will get you out of yourself. When you see what he did for you - he died for you - you love him just because he is beautiful. Grace leads to justice. Moves heart to hands.

References:

• "Of all the books in the Old Testament, Isaiah is perhaps the richest. Its literary grandeur is unequaled. Its scope is unparalleled. The breadth of its view of God is unmatched. In so many ways it is a book of superlatives. Thus it is no wonder that Isaiah is the most quoted prophet in the New Testament, and along with Psalms and Deuteronomy, one of the most frequently cited of all Old Testament books. Study of it is an opportunity for unending inspiration and challenge [as we] see a God whose holiness is made irresistible by his love." - John Oswalt, The Book of Isaiah
• Nora Ellen Groce, Everyone Here Spoke Sign Language

Every person already ascribes ultimate value to something. The world is not divided into people who worship and people who don't. Rather, it is divided between people who worship things that cannot be God to them and people who worship the true God.

References:

• Scientists estimate over 100 billion stars in our galaxy and over 2 trillion other galaxies with as many stars in them. Let's drive across our galaxy at speed of 186,000 miles per second, which is just slightly faster than most of you drive. How fast is that? At that speed you would circle the earth 7 times in one second. So we're going at speed of 669 million miles an hour. In 10 seconds we pass the moon 238,000 miles away. In 10 minutes we pass the sun that's only 93 million miles away. One year passes, five years, ten years, a hundred years, a thousand years, 15,000 years at 669 million miles an hour, and we haven't made it even halfway across our galaxy. We journey on for 20,000 years, 30,000, and we haven't made it halfway yet. After 50,000 years traveling at 669 million miles an hour, we've made it just halfway across our galaxy. If you have another 100,000 years, we could go through the next galaxy.
• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Chapter 12, The Mirror of Erised

What fuels Waterstone for their mission? Worship. Worship that helps us stay fastened and focused on the goodness of God, brought to us in the person of Jesus Christ. His love carried in our hearts is fuel for our church and is the way through the wilderness for each one of us.

References:

• Rod Cooper Farm
• Harry Potter - The Mirror of Erised

This letter from Paul emphasizes the importance of a strong work ethic, contributing to the well-being of the community, avoiding idleness, and fostering a spirit of prayer, peace, and discipline within the church, in order to lead a productive and Christ-centered life.

References:

• "We are not free to pursue whatever brings us the most personal fulfillment. We are not free to define our identity in any way we wish. We are not free to use people or creation as tools for our own ends. We are limited." - Alan Noble

• "This is precisely why we must see that each choice to do the next thing is an act of worship, and therefore fundamentally good. Feeding your pets is an act of worship. Brushing your teeth is. Doing the dishes. Getting dressed. Going to work. Insofar as each of these actions assumes that this life in this fallen world is good and worth living despite suffering, they are acts of faith in God." - Alan Noble

As a church we are to maintain our commitment to the teachings and traditions of the faith, remain steadfast in our beliefs, and not be easily swayed or shaken by false doctrines or external pressures, especially in the face of challenges and trials. 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 encourages followers of Jesus to stand firm in their faith and not waver in their dedication to the Christian message.

References:

• Nothing to be Frightened Of, by Julian Barnes
• Jayber Crow, by Wendell Berry

Do not be shaken: Jesus is in control. Evil will be defeated and destroyed. Easily. The victory is secure. Followers of Jesus are to find our security in God, not in the stability of the world. If our confidence is in anything other than God's truth, then we will be shaken and disturbed.

Remember, there will always be evil in the world. Things might look worse before they get better, but that doesn't mean we need to live in rapture anxiety about every single moment of every single day. When things get bad, we don't have to be shaken—we rest on this truth: when Jesus returns all evil and oppression and death and sin will come to an end. All sad things will come untrue. Jesus will establish his kingdom in full and everything will be made right. Hold fast and remain faithful.

References:

• Marvel movies

A letter from Paul to the community in Thessalonica, 2 Thessalonians encourages believers to stay faithful despite challenges, clarifies misconceptions about Christ's return, and emphasizes the importance of living a productive and moral life while awaiting his coming.

As Jesus is preparing his disciples for his coming absence, he uses this parable to call them to faithfulness and warns them against unfaithfulness until he returns. To be entrusted with the kingdom is not just a privilege it is also a responsibility and people will be held accountable to that responsibility.

References:

• Newsweek: Did the Government Confirm that Aliens Exist?
• A Non-Anxious Presence by Mark Sayers

In the parable, the landowner represents God, and the laborers symbolize people who follow Him. The parable illustrates the concept of God's grace and the equality of rewards in his kingdom. It conveys the message that regardless of how long one has been faithful or how much they have done for God's kingdom, all are equal in his eyes and receive his blessings and rewards.

The parable challenges the human tendency to compare ourselves with others and highlights God's generosity and compassion. It teaches that salvation and God's grace are available to everyone, regardless of their past or present circumstances, and that God's love and rewards are not based on merit alone but on his boundless grace.

A short parable that conveys a powerful message about faith and the growth of the Kingdom of God.

In the parable, Jesus tells his disciples that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed, although small in size, it grows into a large tree or shrub, providing shelter and shade for birds. The main point of the parable is that the Kingdom of God starts small but eventually expands and grows into something significant. It highlights the idea that even though the beginnings may seem insignificant or unimpressive, through time and nurture, they can flourish and have a great impact.

Jesus' parable of the unforgiving servant is about a king who forgives a servant's enormous debt. However, the servant, after being forgiven, refuses to show mercy to a fellow servant who owes him a small amount. The king discovers this and punishes the unforgiving servant, teaching the lesson that we should forgive others as we have been forgiven.

References:

• Forgiveness & Reconciliation
• Forgiveness means letting go of the past sins committed against you, not harboring grudges or plotting revenge, and moving on.
• Reconciliation requires a proper response of repentance from the offending party to fully restore relationship. For forgiveness to be a synonym of reconciliation there must be a proper response from the offending party towards the victim.
• Without genuine repentance, which by definition in scripture leads to changed behavior, the relationship with the offender cannot be restored no should victims act as if it should be.

This parable encourages us to seek and prioritize the kingdom of heaven, emphasizing that the reward and fulfillment found in a relationship with God are far greater than any earthly treasures or temporary pursuits. It serves as a reminder that true riches lie in pursuing God's kingdom and it should be our top priority.

Jesus used parables as a powerful teaching tool to convey profound truths, engage his audience, and invite personal reflection. They were a means to make complex spiritual concepts accessible, memorable, and transformative for those open to receiving his message.

The Parable of the Weeds teaches the idea that in this world, good and evil exist together, and sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish between the two. It emphasizes the importance of patience and leaving judgment to God and suggests that attempts to eliminate evil prematurely may harm the righteous. Instead, God will ultimately bring justice and separate the good from the evil at the appointed time.

Jesus used parables to make his message accessible to the crowds, however, they are not light-hearted. Time and time again we'll see that Jesus used parables to provoke their imagination and encouraged them to see the world from a kingdom perspective—the surprising, upside-down, unstoppable kingdom that requires a decision of allegiance or rejection.

References:

• "Lord Jesus Christ, in you are hidden all the treasures of both wisdom and knowledge." - John Calvin
• Video:

Compassion International pairs sponsors with children living in extreme poverty in an effort to change their circumstances and share the good news of Jesus.

References:

• Treasure Principle, by Randy Alcorn

God yearns for the lost to be found so He calls his people to action. Hearts that pray for the lost are hearts that go to the lost.

References:

• "What if the abstract [heart of God] became concrete? What if the heart of God wasn't just something coming down on us from heaven, but something that showed up among us here on earth?" - Dane Ortlund, Gentle & Lowly, p.169

• "The world is starving for a yearning love, a love that remembers instead of forsakes. A love that isn't tied to our loveliness. A love that gets underneath our messiness. A love that is bigger than the enveloping darkness we might be walking through even today. A love of which even the very best human romance is the faintest of whispers." - Dane Ortlund, Gentle & Lowly, p.168

• Over the past three years of 2020, 2021, and 2022, our Covid pandemic years, WorldVenture colleagues have reported 17,148 pre-conversion relationships, 2,167 believer's baptisms, 268 new communities of believers started, and 15,153 leaders being trained. Among 111 Unreached People Groups around the world.

The Bible is filled with brokenhearted people; Jesus is one of them. Those who lament are those who are comforted. Tears are the deepest human connection and when Jesus weeps, he legitimizes human grief and empathizes with us. How often do you let yourself feel? Is it part of your spiritual diet?

If all our sins are forgiven (past, present, future), finished, then what exactly is Jesus doing right now? Jesus is praying for us—interceding on our behalf. His heart is connecting our heart to the Father's heart.

As we enter Holy Week we reflect on Jesus and his insurmountable love for us. Jesus marched into hell so we could have heaven. He took the desert so we could have garden, and He took the eternal thirst so you could have fountain of life.

References:

• "Even as Jesus' disciples fled from him in shame, he could cite Psalm while looking out from the cross at his mother. He could see in her an important part of his own personal story, a story that testified to the faithfulness and loving-kindness of God. In the moment of his greatest desolation, Jesus could see the invisible outline of God's mercy and presence there in the one from whom, in his human nature, he learned to trust a fathering, a nurturing God. The horror of the scene was not the whole story; the judgment of the Roman Empire was not the final word. He knew that since he was cradled in the arms of his mother." - Russell More, https://www.russellmoore.com/2019/05/08/why-do-dying-men-call-for-mama/
• What People Actually Say Before They Die, by Michael Erard, January 16, 2019, The Atlantic

The story of Acts continues through us as we welcome everyone and proclaim the kingdom of God with boldness and without hindrance.

References:

• Acts 28
• Isaiah 6:9-10

In Acts the apostle Paul proclaims and demonstrates how his life has been changed by the gospel and that the risen Christ leads an unstoppable movement. A movement to persuade all people to find their home with him. Paul met the one, true God who could settle his heart and invites us to do the same. Life is found in Jesus.

References:

• Walk-up Music: What the Hell is Going On? by Elvin Bishop
• They Fled Ukraine and Ukraine Followed, Christianity Today
• With Gossip of the Gospel, the Church Grows in Nepal, Christianity Today
• Boba Jesus, Intervarsity.org

When people follow the way of Jesus their stories begin to look like Jesus' story. In the book of Acts we see that the apostle Paul suffered, and we're not all going to face what he faced, but if we are committed to following the way of Jesus, it means that life will not always be easy. We will encounter hard situations and hard places, but as we go, God promises to go with us.

God has called the church to be vibrant, enduring and built on friendship. We see in Acts that the apostle Paul's ministry is boosted by friendship and we understand that Jesus in his darkest moment on the cross became lonely so that we could be together—with him and with one another. May we be a church that pursues the Holy Spirit and invite friendship into our lives.

References:

• Seinfeld
• "The glorious thing about all the prayers of Lent, is that they presume a loss of zeal. Over time we get comfortable in our sins. They become a part of who we are, a portion of the spiritual architecture of our lives. They are a limp we get used to walking with." - Esau McCaulley, Lent, 18
• "That is why those pathetic people who simply want friends can never make any. The very condition of having friends is that we should want something else besides friends. Where the truthful answer to the question, Do you see the same truth would be 'I see nothing and I don't care about the truth; I only want a friend,' no friendship can arise... There would be nothing for the friendship to be about, and friendship must be about something, even if it were only an enthusiasm for dominoes or white mice. Those who have nothing can share nothing; those who are going nowhere can have no fellow travelers." - C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves, 66-67.

In the post-Christian vision for our world and our culture, progress replaces God's presence as the engine of history. The story of post-Christian culture is a story which says that as the world moves away from faith and belief in God that the world will inevitably become a better place. However, according to the theology of the New Testament, we find ourselves firmly in the era about which Jesus proclaimed, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me—disciple all nations—I am with you ALWAYS—even to the end of the age. Jesus is king. Jesus is on the throne. Even in our post-Christian age, Jesus has not been dethroned from his position at God's right hand. God has not given up on his project of redemption and salvation!

Do you believe that God has created you, made you for this cultural moment? That he has placed you in this time in history, this specific context, so that you can share the good news with your neighbors and loved ones and a culture in desperate need of some good news?

Sermon References:

• "There is no going back. We will most likely live the entirety of our lives in an increasingly diverse, contested, globalized, and divided world. This world will also be a fragile one. Thus such a moment will be served by a church that is relevant by being resilient. With change and chaos as the norm, a nostalgic desire to return to golden days is deeply tempting. But instead of wanting to return to the past, we must learn from the past." - Pastor Mark Sayers
• "Religion declined not because it was refuted, but because it became irrelevant, dull, oppressive. When religion speaks only in the name of authority rather than with the voice of compassion—its message becomes meaningless." - Abraham Joshua Herschel
• Barstool Sports Video

Every day is Ascension Day. In Acts 16 we see that the story of Jesus was drawing the attention of all kinds of people. The gospel transcended racial, economic, and religious differences. Jesus was worthy enough for Lydia; strong enough for the slave girl; forgiving enough for jailer. Could he have what you need?

References:

• "Ascension" image - Photo by Nheyob, Saint James the Greater Catholic Church (Concord, North Carolina), courtesy Wikimedia Commons.
• "[In the story of the church] Ascension is the opening scene that establishes the context for everything that follows: Jesus installed in a position of absolute rule: Christ our King. All men and women live under the rule of Jesus. This rule trumps all other thrones and principalities and powers." - Eugene Peterson, Practice Resurrection, 43.
• Just as I Am, Without One Plea, Confession song, by Charlotte Elliott

The gospel of Jesus is not something that WE do, but something that HE did. It is for everyone! And this, this is what sets up the first church fight in the Bible. Our tendency as people is toward legalism and exclusion, but Jesus and his followers push for inclusion. All are welcome at the table.

References:

• Acts 15: 1-11, 22-29
• The Air We Breathe, by Glen Scrivener
• "I've got the choice of believing two impossible things. I can either believe that the world is constituted so that God took on flesh and was crucified and rose three days later or I can believe that human beings invented this unbelievably preposterous storythat has stretched into every atom of culture. And it isn't obvious to me that the second hypothesis is any easier to believe than the first. Because the more you investigate the manifestations of the story of Christ the more insanely complicated and far-reaching it becomes." -Jordan Peterson
• Thom Rainer, Twitter

We interact with God's bigger story by participating in his plan to flood the world with his presence. We live to see brokenness restored and search for opportunities where our passions and talents intersect with the needs of others to bring about His love, justice, and mercy. The church is called not only to proclaim the good news of Jesus, but also to demonstrate his kingdom as walking previews.

References:

• Generous Justice, by Tim Keller
• How do we practice?
  • Give generously, joyfully and sacrificially of your time and resources to the local church, the vulnerable, and worldwide disciple-making efforts.
  • Love mercy by serving others and using your passions, time, and talents to demonstrate God's mercy to the world.
  • Do justice by growing in awareness, action, and advocacy on behalf of the vulnerable.

Neighboring is the way that we enter into relationship with those in our sphere of influence and share the good news of Jesus.

References:

• Waterstone Mission Statement: To be a people empowered by the presence of Jesus Christ to proclaim his kingdom and demonstrate his love, justice and mercy to our neighbor.

• "The gospel is the good news that God's kingdom has come near in Jesus Christ, & through his life, death, resurrection, and enthronement, the powers of sin, death, and evil no longer have the last word." -Rich Villodas

• Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

• Mark 16:15 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation."

• Luke 9:1-2 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

• John 20:21 Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."

• Mark 1:14-15 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!"

• Practice Neighboring: Pray for our neighbors so they become a part of our lives and hearts.
• Practice Neighboring: Engage your neighbors in meaningful conversation, looking to move relationships from surface, to serious, to spiritual.
• Practice Neighboring: Welcome neighbors into everyday life where they can encounter and experience Jesus.

Jesus promises his particular presence through the Holy Spirit and it is the regenerative work of the Spirit in a believer's heart, where the Spirit uses truth, relationships, and life experiences to conform every believer more to the image of Christ.

Sources:

• Waterstone Mission Statement: To be a people empowered by the presence of Jesus Christ to proclaim his kingdom and demonstrate his love, justice and mercy to our neighbor.
• Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story by Bono

• Top Five New Year's Resolutions (Today Show):

  • Keep your car clean
  • Make your bed
  • Compliment someone and mean it
  • Get outside
  • Schedule more time with friends
• Practicing Transformation: Be with God through spending intentional time in His word and the spiritual practices.
• "It is really pretty simple but deceptive in how profound it is: your life is the byproduct of your lifestyle. By your lifestyle we mean your rituals and routines, the way you spend your time and money, the way you organize your day or your week or your year. Your system is perfectly designed to get the results you are getting." - John Mark Comer, Practicing the Way Vision series, episode 3 sermon, Bridgetown Community Church, 11/19/21.
• "To abide in Christ means to keep up a habit of constant close communion with him—to be always leaning on him, resting on him, pouring out our hearts to him, and using him as our fountain of life and strength, as our chief companion and best friend. To have his words abiding in us, is to keep his sayings and precepts continually before our memories and minds, and make them the guide of our actions and the rule of our daily conduct and behavior." - J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: St John, volume 3, 104.

• "None of us is so rushed that it would be impossible to allow for even ten minutes in the day, in the morning or the evening, in which arrangements could be made for silence, in order to place oneself into the presence of Eternity, allow it to speak, question it, and thereby look deep within and far beyond oneself...Whoever earnestly works at this day by day will be overwhelmed by the golden harvest of the fruit of those times." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Christian Teachings on the Practice of Prayer, ed. Lorraine Kisly, 201.

• Spend time with God:
  • "Read Scripture" app from the BibleProject.com
  • The Songs of Jesus by Timothy and Kathy Keller
  • "Lectio 365" app from 24-7prayer.com
• "Christian worship is essential counter formation to those rival liturgies we are often immersed in, cultural practices that covertly capture our loves and longings, mis-calibrating them, and orienting us to rival visions of the good life." - James K.A. Smith, You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit, 25
• Practicing Transformation: Connect with others through participating in corporate worship and engaging discipleship communities.
• "The triune God is an ecstatic God: he is not a God who hoards his life, but one who gives it away, as he would show in that supreme moment of his self-revelation on the cross. The Father finds his very identity in giving his life and being to the Son; and the Son images his Father in sharing his life with us through the Spirit." - Michael Reeves, Delighting in the Trinity, 45.
• Practicing Transformation: Live like Jesus through displaying the love of Jesus in everyday interactions and unexpected circumstances.

• "A strange chemistry of Providence is this, to extract so great a good as the enlargement of the gospel out of so great an evil as the confinement of the apostle." - Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible, comment on Philippians 1:12.

Christmas means that a king has come and his arrival was a threat to the reigning King of the Jews, Herod. God's sovereign plan for Jesus can be seen in even the smallest of details, and these prove His love for all.

References:

• Hidden Christmas, by Tim Keller
• From Strength to Strength, Arthur C. Brooks
• The Four Loves, by C.S. Lewis

The Spirit is a gift of God. It's something he has given us. May we be a church and a people that embraces that gift and prays, Come Holy Spirit, fill us with your power and presence.

References:

• "When Christianity is open to the Spirit and takes the work of the Holy Spirit seriously we recognize that the Gospel is about God's love for people who are marginalized in a world of sin." - Beth Felker Jones

The early church launches from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria and the uttermost parts of the world. Even in the midst of persecution, God continues to shape His church and refine it from inside and out.

References:

• "I am neither an optimist nor a pessimist. Jesus Christ is risen from the dead." - Leslie Newbigin, British Theologian
• Thanksgiving Meals Outreach
• Fall Festival
• Kids Ministry
• Colorado Housing Asylum Network (CHAN)
• Stephen Ministry

Acts chapter 5 begins the stories of persecution of the church. Luke tells us that the Saducees and Pharisees—the religious and political leaders of their day were jealous of the successful ministry the Apostles were having and sought to persecute them.

Like the disciples, we ought to see how the cultural challenges that lie ahead are not obstacles that hinder us, but avenues for our faith to shine brighter. Suffering is something that can produce endurance and strengthen our hope in God.

References:

• "Since the states authority has been delegated by God, we are to submit right up to the point where disobedience to the state would involve disobedience to God. At that point it is our Christian duty to disobey the state in order to obey God." - John Stott
• "The idea that the current moment means we should jettison biblical traits like kindness, gentleness, unity, lack of quarrelsomeness, etc. Is foreign to a New Testament written predominantly by men about to killed for their faith to people about to be killed for their faith." - Daniel Darling
• "Historically, Christians have most influenced society not as culture warriors but as a praying, worshiping, giving, neighbor-loving minority. If given the opportunity would we return to that, or are partisanism and power now preferred as lord and savior." - Scott Sauls

The Church is bold in proclaiming the Jesus Story, even in the face of opposition because we are motivated by Jesus' sovereignty and by his Spirit. The Church cannot keep quiet about Jesus, because if we believe what we believe it is life changing.

References:

• "If civilization is to be saved," and then he says, "Every civilization is like a billow of smoke in the wind. If we are to be saved, it will not be by Romans. It will be by saints." - Thomas Cahill, How the Irish Saved Civilization

• "We should resist, on the one hand, the cheap-and-chattering atheism that denies all divine action in the world, and on the other the tidy-minded theologians who allow God to act in the world but only if he does so in democratic egalitarian fashion, the same across the board." https://www.ntwrightonline.org/what-would-it-look-like-if-god-was-in-charge/

• "As you have made a pretty considerable progress in the mysteries of electricity, I would now humbly recommend to your diligent unprejudiced pursuit and study the mysteries of the new birth. One at whose bar we are shortly to appear, hath solemnly declared, that without it, "we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven." - George Whitefield quoted in Thomas S Kidd, George Whitefield: America's Spiritual Founding Father, 210
• "Lord, give me firmness without hardness; steadfastness without dogmatism; love without weakness." - Jim Elliot, Through Gates of Splendor
• "There is nothing chillier than a Christian who is not trying to save others." - John of Chrysostom, 390 AD quoted in J.N.D. Kelly, Golden Mouth, 85

The book of Acts is a sequel to the book of Luke and recounts the story, struggle and success of the gospel message going forth: under the plan of God, centered on King Jesus and empowered by the presence of the Spirit. It is full of miracles and wonders: God showing up in supernatural ways as the Gospel makes its way from Jerusalem to Rome. Within 30 years of Jesus ascension, the gospel traveled from Jerusalem to Rome.

It is the story of the disciples and the followers of Jesus being empowered by the Holy Spirit to witness to the whole world.

References:

• "The point of the resurrection is that the present bodily life is not valueless just because it will die." What you do with your body in the present matters because God has a great future in store for it. What you do in the present—by painting, preaching, singing, sewing, praying, teaching, building hospitals, digging wells, campaigning for justice, writing poems, caring for the needy, loving your neighbor as yourself—will last into God's future. These activities are not simply ways of making the present life a little less beastly, a little more bearable, until the day when we leave it behind altogether (as the hymn so mistakenly puts it). They are part of what we may call building for God's kingdom." - N.T. Wright
• "Our task as image-bearing, God-loving, Christ-shaped, Spirit-filled Christians, following Christ and shaping our world, is to announce redemption to a world that has discovered its fallenness, to announce healing to a world that has discovered its brokenness, to proclaim love and trust to a world that knows only exploitation, fear and suspicion...The gospel of Jesus points us and indeed urges us to be at the leading edge of the whole culture, articulating in story and music and art and philosophy and education and poetry and politics and theology and even—heaven help us—Biblical studies, a worldview that will mount the historically-rooted Christian challenge to both modernity and postmodernity, leading the way with joy and humor and gentleness and good judgment and true wisdom." - N.T. Wright

Notes:

• Deconstruction is the process of taking apart and examining an idea, tradition, practice, or belief to determine its truthfulness, usefulness, and impact, sometimes to the point of no longer identifying as a Christian.
• If you have wandered away from the faith or if faith no longer works for you, or you've given up on church—but there is still some part of you that is drawn to Jesus? Lean into that. Blaise Pascal once said, "The heart has its reasons for which reason knows nothing." If your heart is saying there is something beautiful about Christ that your head just can't quite comprehend, that's ok. Lean into the beauty of Jesus and see what happens. You might just find there are some things too beautiful not to be true.

If we're honest, I think all of us have experienced doubt in our faith. We don't necessarily talk about it, especially in church, but we can relate to those going through a season of uncertainty in their faith. Here at Waterstone we believe that we can walk through questions surrounding faith together, and that God is near to us even when we question his presence.

References:

• Charles Spurgeon
• When Everything's on Fire, by Brian Zahnd
• Philip Yancey
• Tim Keller

Faith is a journey and it's expected that we'll have questions along the way. When our experiences and knowledge within our faith don't align, Jesus invites us to ask, ponder, and deconstruct with him.

We are hungry for more Jesus and a more full, robust discipleship to him. We hope to be a church that longs for God's kingdom and is radically marked and changed by the person of Jesus.

References:

• "Spiritual formation in the Christian tradition is a process of increasingly being possessed and permeated by the character traits of Jesus as we walk in the easy yoke of discipleship with Jesus our teacher." - Dallas Willard

• "Evangelical Christianity in the United states is often characterized by a deep desire to have 'Christianity' pervade our culture but not have Christ permeate our being." - Rich Villodas

• "Christian worship is essential counter formation to those rival liturgies we are often immersed in, cultural practices that covertly capture our loves and our longings, miscalibrating them, and orienting us to rival visions of the good life." - James K.A. Smith

• "A disciple is a learner, a student, an apprentice—a practitioner. Disciples of Jesus are people who do not just profess certain views as their own but apply their growing understanding of life in the Kingdom of the Heavens to every aspect of their life on earth." - Dallas Willard

References

• Contact Theory
• "The closing scene of the Bible is not a vision of human beings going up to heaven, as in so much popular imagination, nor even of Jesus himself coming to earth, but of the new Jerusalem itself coming from heaven to earth...What God did in Jesus, coming to an unknowing world and an unwelcoming people, he is doing on a cosmic scale. He is coming to live, forever, in our midst, a healing, comforting, celebrating presence...Heaven and earth were joined together in Jesus; heaven and earth will one day be joined fully and forever" - N. T. Wright, Revelation for Everyone, 187-188
• "In the year 1653, when all things sacred were throughout ye nation either demolished or profaned, Sir Robert Shirley, Baronet, did found this church: Whose singular praise it is to have done the best of things in the worst of times, and hoped them in the most calamitous." - Ralph C. Wood, Contending for the Faith, Baylor University Press, 2003, p. 213

The Bible offers guidance on how to have a flourishing sex life, which differs from the messages that purity culture and promiscuity culture have communicated. These messages from purity culture (overvaluing sex) and promiscuity culture (devaluing sex) also existed when Paul was writing to the church in Corinth almost 2,000 years ago. In his letters, he argues that God's vision for sex represents the beauty of the gospel of Jesus—and therefore, in its proper context, sex can demonstrate the sacrificial love that God has for us.

References:

• "The simple answer is that sexual desire has emerged in the last one hundred years as a primary category for understanding our identity. In biblical times or in ancient Greece, sex was regarded as something that human beings did; today it is considered to be something vital to who human beings are." - Carl R. Trueman, Strange New World
• Opinion: Straight People Need Better Rules for Sex, nyimes.com
• Opinion: Consent is not enough. We need a new sexual ethic. By Christine Emba, washingtonpost.com
• Consent Was Never Enough,The Atlantic
• The Sexual Revolution has Failed Generation X Women,The Critic Magazine
• Women have Been Betrayed by a Culture of Porn Gone Wild,The Times
• "We like to define freedom as the ability to do whatever we want, whenever we want it, with whomever we want. But to Jesus, that's not freedom—that's slavery! Freedom, at least in Jesus' mind, is the ability to do whatever you should. To enjoy the world as God intended. To live fully awake and alive." - John Mark Comer, Loveology
• "Sex was created not only to be physically intimate but to be an emotional and spiritual 'knowing' as well. When all three types of intimacy are present—spiritual, emotional and physical—each works in tandem with the others so that they feed one another. The more you laugh and feel close, the more you desire each other and make love. The more you make love, the more connected you feel, which makes your commitment stronger." - Sheila Gregoire, The Great Sex Rescue
• 1 Corinthians 6:9-20
• 1 Corinthians 7:1-3

Within church community every person has their own story. No matter our life stage: single, married, divorced, widowed, etc. we are called to be brothers and sisters and to intentionally connect with one another. The easiest way to do that is to seek out those who are in a different life stage, or generation, and be curious. Ask questions. Reach out. Be welcoming. Be the church.

References:

• "To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God." - Tim Keller

Paul's household codes in Ephesians 5 have been some of the most misused and misunderstood verses in the entire Bible. We read Paul's words about submission and almost immediately react defensively because of the ways that these verses have been used to prop up male authority and patriarchal systems.

However, what if we've so misunderstood these verses that we inadvertently use them to prop up the very systems that Paul was seeking to dismantle? What if we've taken a command to submit to one another in love and have misused it as permission subjugate others, particularly women? What if the good news of the Gospel really is good news, and begins to undo the damage of inequality between men and women, freeing them to walk in the way of love as Christ has loved us?

But what if we've so misunderstood these verses that we inadvertently use them to prop up the very systems that Paul was seeking to dismantle. What if we've taken a command to submit to one another in love and have misused it as permission subjugate others, particularly women. What if the good news of the Gospel really is good news, and begins to undo the damage of inequality between men and women, freeing them to walk in the way of love as Christ has loved us.

Whether you are in the middle of raising your own children, your children are grown, or you are an influence in children's lives, all of us who are in the family of God are called to raise and reach the next generation.

References:

• Generations - Nate Bargatze: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=405536081053230
• "The ambassador doesn't have any authority in and of himself. He has authority only because he represents a king who has authority. Here's God's amazing plan. He makes his invisible authority visible by sending visible authority figures as his representatives. This means that every time you exercise authority in the lives of your children, it must be a beautiful picture of the authority of God. In the lives of your children, you are the look of God's face, you are the touch of his hand, and you are the tone of his voice. You must never exercise authority in an angry, impatient way. You must never exercise authority in an abusive way. You must never exercise authority in a selfish way. Why? Because you have been put into your position as parent to display before your children how beautiful, wise, patient, guiding, protective, rescuing, and forgiving God's authority is." - Paul David Tripp

God the Father adopts you as a son and daughter. He puts love in your heart and this love enables us to move toward others all around us with love.

References:

• Promise Keepers - James Ryle, Pastor of Vine Life Christian Fellowship
• The Invention of Solitude, by Paul Auster
• The Royal Tenenbaums, 2001 film
• Camp Diva, Angela Patton, Ted Talk
• Hannah Coulter, Wendall Berry
• All Joy and No Fun, by Jennifer Senior

When evil times come, people get cynical and angry. They blame others. They lose hope. But Christians are the opposite. We are to be humble. Admit our part in what is wrong. We are to have hope. The gospel humbles us out of our pride but in such a way that we have more confidence in God than ever before. Have humility. Have hope. Remember someday the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD.

References:

• "I thought when I got to where I wanted to be, everything would be different. I'd be somewhere else. I thought it'd be all white fluffy clouds. And then I got there. And I'm still here." Then interviewer asks why he pursued music and fame. Yorke replies, "It's filling the hole, that's all anyone does." - Thom Torke, Radiohead, Rolling Stones
• "Winning made me feel like I was somebody. It made me feel pretty. It was like being hooked on a drug. I needed the wins, the applause, in order to have an identity." - Chris Evert, G.Housekeeping, 10/90, 87
• Lewis Smedes, Love Within Limits, 34-35
• Counterfeit Gods, by Tim Keller

• "So let the reader who expects this book to be a political exposé slam its covers shut right now. If only it were all so simple! If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being...Confronted by the pit into which we are about to toss those who have done us harm, we halt, stricken dumb: it is after all only because of the way things worked out that they were the executioners and we weren't." - Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, Gulag Archipelago

What do we do when God's expectations do not align with our expectations for our life? The book of Habakkuk shows us that in the face of evil and injustice, we wait and trust in God who will not tolerate evil and injustice forever. The book begins with an interrogation of God and ends with praise of God: worry transformed into worship, fear tuned to faith, terror becomes trust and anguish dissolves into adoration.

God always works in unexpected ways. That's the cross. Ground literally shook as Jesus died. It didn't look like victory. It didn't look like success. It didn't look like God's plan. But it was central to it. Love conquering evil. Compassion breaking injustice. Kindness canceling strife. The world was shaken to its core.

What must Waterstone become, in order to be a church that embodies the kingdom of God and gives hope to those both outside and inside the church? Can we see renewal and restoration take place, not wounding and heartbreak? The things we believe Christ is calling his church to are hard things. They aren't easy and not for the faint of heart.

References:

• Live No Lies, by John Mark Comer
• "Exiles" Barna Study
• "Why do you and I, sincere religious people, not look like Jesus? We can be arrogant where we should be humble, judgmental where we should be forgiving, hateful where we should be loving, self-concerned where we should be altruistic, and, not least, spiteful and vicious where we should be understanding and merciful. Our lives and churches don't radiate Jesus." - Ronald Rolheiser, Wrestling With God
• The Pursuit of God, by A.W. Tozer

What does salvation mean and how has the church created a gospel story that's efficient but not sufficient?

Today we explore the Bible and consider, Are there any contradictions in Scripture? and How does an ancient book speak into my life now?

References:

• "The Good Book Business", New Yorker, December, 18, 2006
• The Bible Jesus Read, by Philip Yancey, 120
• Can We Trust the Gospels?, by Peter Williams
• Jesus and the Eyewitnesses: The Gospels as Eyewitness Testimony, by Richard Bauckham
• "The Old Testament is responsible for more atheism, agnosticism, disbelief--call it what you will--than any book ever written; it has emptied more churches than all the counter-attractions of cinema, motor bicycle and golf course." - A.A. Milne, Year In, Year Out
• The Art of Biblical Narrative, by Robert Alter

• "It is a library—a collection of sixty-six separate items, written in three languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek), composed and brought together over a period of more than a thousand years, and containing material of the most varied literary types—written history, personal memoirs, sermons, letters, hymns, prayers, love poetry, philosophical poetry, family trees, visions, Tales, statistics, public laws, rubrics for rituals, inventories, and much else. It divides into two collections, the second dating from a single half-century (hardly more, and perhaps much less) several hundred years after the composing of the first collection ended." - J.I. Packer, Truth and Power, 64-65.

• Lectio 365 App
• Bible Project App, www.bibleproject.com

There is not much division over who Holy Spirit is—the third person of trinity, co-equal, co-eternal with God. The confusion often arises when we try to understand what he does and role he plays in our lives.

References:

• God of All Things, by Andrew Wilson, 129-131
• A Faithful Narrative of the Surprising Work of God, by Jonathan Edwards
• Pretzel Metaphor for the Trinity
• The Mark of a Christian, by Francis Schaeffer

Who is Jesus and what does that mean for me?

References:

• "The Burden of the Gospels," The Way of Ignorance, by Wendell Berry
• "Crucifixion was a Roman form of public service announcement: Do not engage in sedition as this person has, or your fate will be similar. The point of the exercise was not the death of the offender as such, but getting the attention of those watching. Crucifixion first and foremost is addressed to an audience." - Paula Fredrickson quoted by James H. Cone, The Cross and the Lynching Tree, 26
• "Humility is making the choice to forego your status in order to deploy your resources and influence for the good of others before yourself." - John Dickson, Humilitas, 24.
• "Do not imagine that if you meet a really humble man he will be what most people call 'humble' nowadays: he will not be a sort of greasy, smarmy person, who is always telling you that, of course, he is nobody. Probably all you will think about him is that he seemed a cheerful, intelligent chap, who took a real interest in what you said to him. If you do dislike him, it will be because you feel a little envious of anyone who seems to enjoy life so easily. He will not be thinking about humility; he will not be thinking about himself at all." - C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, 128.

What if there is a God so transcendent he has named every star and so immanent that he cares for every sparrow—and what if that God wants to be with you?

References:

• The Big Sort: Why the Clustering of Like-Minded America is Tearing Us Apart, by Bill Bishop
• Church Dogmatics, by Karl Barth
• “Since God is, before all things, a Father, and not primarily Creator or Ruler, all his ways are beautifully fatherly. It is not that this God ‘does’ being Father as a day job, only to kick back in the evenings as plain old ‘God’. It is not that he has a nice blob of fatherly icing on top. He is Father. All the way down. Thus, all that he does, he does as Father. That is who he is. He creates as a Father and he rules as a Father; and that means the way he rules when we see that God rules his creation over creation is most unlike the way any other God would rule over creation... only as a kind and loving Father will we be moved to delight in his providence. We might acknowledge that the rule of some heavenly policeman was just, but we could never take delight in his regime as we can delight in the tender care of a father.” - Michael Reeves, Delighting in the Trinity
• With, by Skye Jethani
• "That's why Sabbath is an expression of faith. Faith that there is a Creator and he's good. We are his creation. This is his world. We live under his roof, drink his water, eat his food, breathe his oxygen. So on the Sabbath, we don't just take a day off from work; we take a day off from toil. We give him all our fear and anxiety and stress and worry. We let go. We stop ruling and subduing, and we just be. We 'remember' our place in the universe. So that we never forget...There is a God, and I'm not him." - John Mark Comer, Garden City

Paul urges the believers to prefer the other instead of prioritizing our own preferences for the sake of the unity and witness of the Church. Our actions and attitudes surrounding the non-essentials of the faith can either build up or tear down our neighbors both inside and outside of the church.

Paul again holds love for one another and "the other" as the defining feature of the Church but then adds this bracing support for how we can endure as a loving community. The hope of Christ's return fuels the loving community.

In a world that can be hostile to our beliefs and faith, how are the people of God called to live? In Romans 12:14-21 Paul calls the people of God to two difficult commands: pursue hospitality and never pursue hostility.

Self-giving commitment to the needs of the other is the norm for relationships within the Church because we are born of God and God is love.

In a time of confusion and compromise, God is calling his people to a movement of Beautiful Resistance. When the people of God recognize and remember God's mercy, the logical response is to give offer ourselves to him so that we might be transformed to his ways in the world.

Seeing the love, justice and mercy on display in Jesus' story of the Good Samaritan helps us understand that we are called to be walking billboards for the Kingdom of God.

The Kingdom of God is central message and mission of Jesus which is why we must proclaim His Kingdom—using words. Contagious relationships ("neighboring") drive the spread of the Kingdom movement.

Peter calls the Church a "holy priesthood"—an identity that transforms our approach to God and our neighbor. This is why our heart burns for closeness and why the entire Story of the Bible is the display of his relentless efforts to bring us back to face-to-face relationship—now experienced by the Spirit of God dwelling in us.

We all believe a story. At Waterstone we believe that we are restless until we find our story in Jesus' story.

The word "love" is one of the sloppiest words in our language, as it primarily refers to a feeling that happens to a person. In the New Testament, "love" refers to a way of treating people that was defined by Jesus himself: seeking the well-being of others regardless of their response.

Jesus is leaving. We are staying. God help us! The ascension of Christ begins the unexpected launch of his mission during this age as the Holy Spirit empowers his church to be the body of Christ!

The Apostles say Christians are Easter people, yet it is a challenge, not only to believe that the resurrection happened but also to fully absorb what it means. Come along as we explore the evidence and the meaning of Christ's resurrection.

The cross of Christ is the climax of the Bible's narrative. Years after Jesus' death the Apostle Paul looks back on what was the meaning of Christ's death and what God accomplished through the cross.

How is this: Jesus confronts a Demon and in doing so we see his true identity as the Cosmic King who calls us to give him our total allegiance.

In the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well, Jesus reveals that he is the King who has come to break down barriers of separation between us and God, and barriers of division between each other.

Jesus the Teacher. Jesus' words propel history as they capture and transform the human heart. Listen to Jesus speak to one of our current cultural challenges: politics.

The Baptism of Jesus Christ displays the mission of God to connect with sinners while giving the motivation to stay on mission: the Holy Spirit and the Father's Voice.

Follow along with our year-long Bible reading plan! Even if you've fallen behind, we encourage you to start back up with us this weekend and dive into God's word. It's worth it!

Are you following along with our year-long Bible reading plan? Even if you've fallen behind, we encourage you to start back up with us this weekend and dive into God's word. It's worth it!

Are you following along with our year-long Bible reading plan? Even if you've fallen behind, we encourage you to start back up with us this weekend and dive into God's Word. It's worth it!

Are you following along with our year-long Bible reading plan? Even if you've fallen behind, we encourage you to start back up with us this weekend and dive into God's word. It's worth it!

Happy Mother's Day! Today, we open to the book of Proverbs and explore how words can have both a positive and negative impact. Proverbs is key to the story of God's grand narrative because it demonstrates ways it is possible to experience the goodness of God, despite the fallen reality of the world we live in.

The typical American spends 1/3 of their life working—roughly 90,000
hours. By the age of 30, most people will switch jobs 7 or 8 times. 80%
of workers say they are dissatisfied with their job. And couples where
one partner spends 10+ hours more than usual at work, divorce at
twice the rate. There is a lot of dissatisfaction with work.

To make matters worse, many days after we finish our work we are left
with the haunting question: Did the work I do all day actually matter?
Ecclesiastes transparently acknowledges the pain and futility many of
us feel around work. But as much as work can feel like a curse,
Ecclesiastes is also quick to point out that it is actually a gift form God.

That there are a lot of ways God has actually given work meaning and
value and that through our work we can find eternal significance, a
chance to contribute to the common good, and even worship God.
Which is good news considering how much of our life is spent on
work.

We often think prayer is what people do when they are doing their
best. It's not. We assume there is a particular language we must use for God to take our prayers seriously. There isn't. We think our prayers
must sound sophisticated or theological so people will know how
spiritual we are. We shouldn't. We think prayer is saying "Thanks!" or
shouting "Help!" And it is—but it's also so much more.

Prayer is primal. Prayer is elemental. Prayer is honesty. Prayer is
expression: anger, praise, lament. It is passion and it is apathy. Prayer
is devotion and it is doubt. Prayer is silence and it is screaming. Prayer is raw. Eugene Peterson says prayer "is the means by which we get everything in our lives out in the open before God." The good and the messy.

The Psalms is a prayer book that captures all of these experiences and
so much more. They provide us with the language of God when words
fail. They are the acknowledgement that to be human is doubt and
lament and to praise. If you are having difficulty praying, pray aloud
the Psalms.

Celebrating the forgiveness of sins, the promise of heaven, and the confidence that God is going to do something good in the days to come—because Jesus is alive!!

It's time for our 2nd quarter Reading Plan. If you're reading the Bible along with us, we've taken a break for Palm Sunday and Easter, but will resume with the Love this Book series on April 19.

A time of reflecting on the cross through worship, scripture reading, and prayer.

It's time for our 2nd quarter Reading Plan. If you're reading the Bible along with us, we've taken a break for Palm Sunday and Easter, but will resume with the Love this Book series on April 19.

Palm Sunday marks Jesus' entry into Jerusalem and the beginning of Holy Week.

It's time for our 2nd quarter reading plan. If you're reading the Bible along with us, we've taken a break for Palm Sunday and Easter, but will resume with the Love this Book series on April 19.

Picking up "in the days when the judges ruled," the book of Ruth tells
the story of Naomi, the Moabite widow Ruth, and the farmer Boaz.
The four chapters of the book are each designed with intentional
symmetry. The first and last chapters reflect how loyalty turned this
story of tragedy and death into a story of joy and birth. The inner
chapters show how Naomi and Ruth make a plan, followed by an
encounter between Ruth and Boaz, followed by Naomi and Ruth
rejoicing.

Curiously, God is hardly mentioned in the book of Ruth. At a time
when we look for God to be active through a judge or king, God
instead works out his will through the everyday faithfulness of his
people. This faithfulness not only benefits Naomi and her family but
goes on to bless the world through the family of David, the line from
which the Messiah would eventually come.

It's time for our 2nd quarter Reading Plan. If you're reading the Bible along with us, we've taken a break for Palm Sunday and Easter, but will resume with the Love this Book series on April 19.

Saul is the perfect candidate to be king according to human standards: he is tall, handsome, successful and a warrior. So the people chose him to be their visible king over an invisible God. But Saul is an incredibly flawed character. As the story unfolds it is clear he is a terrible king. He lacks integrity, is dishonest, prideful, and incapable of acknowledging his mistakes. Saul's story ends in tragedy when God rejects Saul as king, because Saul rejected God as King.

1. How has the coronavirus pandemic impacted your life so far?
2. Is there a person that you share your worries with, or do you mostly worry alone?
3. Do you think that all worry is bad, or is there such a thing as legitimate worry?
4. Read Matthew 6:25-34. Reflect: Jesus draws a contrast in this passage. He begins by attacking anxiety. He demonstrates that it is useless to worry. There is nothing positive that comes from it. The day will bring what the day will bring. If we worry about the future we waste time thinking about those things that we cannot control. Jesus is specifically talking about worrying about material things such as good and clothes. Instead of being distracted by such things. Jesus implores his listeners to seek the Kingdom of God. It's a choice we constantly have to make.
Jesus is asking us to examine our hearts. Are we going to spend our energy worrying about our comfort or are we going to focus on the Kingdom?
5. What do you learn about God from this passage?
6. What do you learn about yourself from this passage?
7. What does it mean to engage with this teaching of Jesus in this season of heightened fear and uncertainty?
8. What do you think Jesus means when he says, "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness"?
9. As a group, in this pandemic time how can you pursue the Kingdom together?
10. Where have you seen God active this week?

Feel free to pray this together as you close your time together. Also, consider praying for any requests individuals might have.

Heidelberg Catechism: What is your only hope in life and death?

That I am not my own, but belong with body and soul,
both in life and in death, to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.
He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood,
and has set me free from all the power of the devil.
He also preserves me in such a way
that without the will of my heavenly Father
not a hair can fall from my head;
indeed, all things must work together
for my salvation.
Therefore, by his Holy Spirit
he also assures me
of eternal life
and makes me heartily willing and ready
form now on to live for him.

Leviticus in 200 words or less

Genesis and Exodus are blazing narratives full of action, crisis and divine intervention. But then the narrative grinds to a screeching halt in the book of Leviticus. Full of moral codes, sacrifices and details on priestly garb, Leviticus is the book that causes most of us to give up on our Bible-in-a-year Reading Plan.

As Exodus draws to a close, and Leviticus opens we are told that God has come to dwell in the tabernacle, the place where God and his people "meet." But we are also told that Moses and the people of God still cannot enter his presence. Something is still separating them.

The rest of Leviticus is series of rituals, detailed instructions and moral guidelines designed to solve that problem. The corruption, impurity, and sin of God's people, not to mention the realities of living in a fallen world full of death and disease, cause this separation. God's holiness is like a nuclear reactor, dangerous to anyone who is not holy, and the instructions can be understood as a way to safely interact with the raw power of God's presence. Leviticus therefore can be understood as God's gracious provision for Israel to know with confidence that they are forgiven and that despite their sin and corruption, they can safely live near his presence. It makes Leviticus a revolutionary book in its day.

Discussion Questions:

• (Optional Ice Breaker) Word Association Game. What's the first word that pops into your mind when you hear "Leviticus." Give an explanation to your gut level reaction.
• In your relationship with God, how have you traditionally understood or viewed his holiness?
  • Holiness Customs Agent
  • Moral Book Keeper
  • Nuclear Reactor
  • Another view
• What is your understanding of how God's holiness and our sin keeps us separated from one another?
• In Leviticus, sin seems to function more like a virus or pollutant discharged into the atmosphere that not only infects people, but also attacks and breaks down societies and institutions. Have you thought of sin in this way before and do you agree or disagree with this way of viewing sin?
• From a Levitical perspective, the burden of sin is serious and consequential. To deny this burden jeopardizes both people and the world by obstructing God's capacity to be intimate with his people. What do you think about the concept that as Christians are convicted of their sin, and wake up to the realities of their need for God (revival), that non-Christians will also wake up (evangelism)?
• At the center of the Levitical Code is a call for the people of God to be holy as God is holy (Lev. 19:2). The book then goes on to demonstrate that for the people of God, being holy and set apart from the culture they live in revolves around three main concepts: a higher level of generosity, a different standard of sexual ethics and a deep concern for social justice. Which of these do you find most challenge in our current cultural climate? Explain.
• At the end of Leviticus (chapter 26) God summarizes the covenant given to Israel in this way: If they remain faithful and obedient to the covenant they will experience peace and abundance in the land. If they are unfaithful there will be disaster and exile from the land which seems conditional and typically not how we understand God's relationship with his people. We often hear of God's unconditional love, not based on any actions of our own. How do you reconcile the seeming discrepancy?
• Read Leviticus 26:40-45. What stands out to you about this passage and what is God attempting to communicate to the people of God?

Resources for further study

• Bible Project—Read Scripture: Leviticus

Bible Project Video: