Our instinct in a hard season is to look for the exit. But God often does his deepest work on the very road we're trying to skip, shaping in us the kind of people we couldn't become any other way.

Everything lands here. If work is bigger than we've been told, if restoration is possible even in broken places, if who you are comes before what you do, what does that actually look like on a Monday morning? This week, we get specific about what a genuinely different relationship with work looks like in practice, and what it means to finally work like all of this is true.

Most of us are more dependent on our work for our sense of identity than we realize. When it's going well, we feel great. When it isn't, we don't. This week, we look at what happens when you stop letting work tell you who you are, and why getting that order right might be the single most liberating shift available to anyone who works.

Work is hard. That's not your imagination, and it's probably not just your job. This week, we get honest about why work so often feels toilsome, frustrating, and broken, and why the answer isn't a better employer or a different career. More importantly, we explore what it looks like to work faithfully and generously in the middle of a world that isn't working the way it was supposed to.

The stories our culture tells about work (find your passion, climb the ladder, collect your paycheck) aren't completely wrong. But they're not big enough either. This week, we look at where those stories fall short and introduce a bigger, richer account of what work was actually designed to be and why something in us already suspects there's more.

Something in us knows the world isn't the way it's supposed to be. Easter isn't just a celebration — it's an answer to that ache. Come explore what the resurrection has to say about our deepest grief and our greatest hope.

Life has a way of breaking our assumptions. Good people suffer. Hard work doesn’t always pay off. Prayers go unanswered. And when things fall apart, the easy explanations don’t just feel thin—they can feel insulting. The book of Job begins where many of us find ourselves: asking honest questions in the middle of real pain. Not “How do I fix this?” but “Is the world actually fair?” and “If God exists, can God be trusted when life makes no sense?”

This ancient story doesn’t rush to defend God or explain suffering away. Instead, it invites us into a raw conversation about grief, anger, silence, and the limits of human understanding. Job challenges the idea that life is a simple equation—and dares us to consider a different kind of trust, one not rooted in outcomes but in humility, honesty, and wonder. Whether you believe in God, doubt God, or aren’t sure what you believe at all, this series creates space to wrestle with life’s hardest questions without pretending they’re easy.

Life has a way of breaking our assumptions. Good people suffer. Hard work doesn’t always pay off. Prayers go unanswered. And when things fall apart, the easy explanations don’t just feel thin—they can feel insulting. The book of Job begins where many of us find ourselves: asking honest questions in the middle of real pain. Not “How do I fix this?” but “Is the world actually fair?” and “If God exists, can God be trusted when life makes no sense?”

Life has a way of breaking our assumptions. Good people suffer. Hard work doesn’t always pay off. Prayers go unanswered. And when things fall apart, the easy explanations don’t just feel thin—they can feel insulting. The book of Job begins where many of us find ourselves: asking honest questions in the middle of real pain. Not “How do I fix this?” but “Is the world actually fair?” and “If God exists, can God be trusted when life makes no sense?”

This ancient story doesn’t rush to defend God or explain suffering away. Instead, it invites us into a raw conversation about grief, anger, silence, and the limits of human understanding. Job challenges the idea that life is a simple equation—and dares us to consider a different kind of trust, one not rooted in outcomes but in humility, honesty, and wonder. Whether you believe in God, doubt God, or aren’t sure what you believe at all, this series creates space to wrestle with life’s hardest questions without pretending they’re easy.

Life has a way of breaking our assumptions. Good people suffer. Hard work doesn’t always pay off. Prayers go unanswered. And when things fall apart, the easy explanations don’t just feel thin—they can feel insulting. The book of Job begins where many of us find ourselves: asking honest questions in the middle of real pain. Not “How do I fix this?” but “Is the world actually fair?” and “If God exists, can God be trusted when life makes no sense?”

This ancient story doesn’t rush to defend God or explain suffering away. Instead, it invites us into a raw conversation about grief, anger, silence, and the limits of human understanding. Job challenges the idea that life is a simple equation—and dares us to consider a different kind of trust, one not rooted in outcomes but in humility, honesty, and wonder. Whether you believe in God, doubt God, or aren’t sure what you believe at all, this series creates space to wrestle with life’s hardest questions without pretending they’re easy.

Life has a way of breaking our assumptions. Good people suffer. Hard work doesn’t always pay off. Prayers go unanswered. And when things fall apart, the easy explanations don’t just feel thin—they can feel insulting. The book of Job begins where many of us find ourselves: asking honest questions in the middle of real pain. Not “How do I fix this?” but “Is the world actually fair?” and “If God exists, can God be trusted when life makes no sense?”

This ancient story doesn’t rush to defend God or explain suffering away. Instead, it invites us into a raw conversation about grief, anger, silence, and the limits of human understanding. Job challenges the idea that life is a simple equation—and dares us to consider a different kind of trust, one not rooted in outcomes but in humility, honesty, and wonder. Whether you believe in God, doubt God, or aren’t sure what you believe at all, this series creates space to wrestle with life’s hardest questions without pretending they’re easy.

Most of us carry questions about God—about what God cares about, how God acts, and what it means to be part of God’s story. Maybe you’ve wondered if faith really makes a difference, if God is active in the world—or if he cares about someone like you.

The story of Jonah doesn’t start with tidy answers. It starts with God moving in surprising ways—through storms, resistance, changing of ways, and unexpected acts of mercy. As we watch the story unfold, we’re invited to ask the same question Jonah had to face: Who is this God, really? Not the God we assume, not the God we’ve been told about, but the God whose heart is wide enough to pursue, challenge, and care for the world—and whose character calls us to see differently, live differently, and consider what it might mean to follow that God for ourselves.

Most of us carry questions about God—about what God cares about, how God acts, and what it means to be part of God’s story. Maybe you’ve wondered if faith really makes a difference, if God is active in the world—or if he cares about someone like you.

The story of Jonah doesn’t start with tidy answers. It starts with God moving in surprising ways—through storms, resistance, changing of ways, and unexpected acts of mercy. As we watch the story unfold, we’re invited to ask the same question Jonah had to face: Who is this God, really? Not the God we assume, not the God we’ve been told about, but the God whose heart is wide enough to pursue, challenge, and care for the world—and whose character calls us to see differently, live differently, and consider what it might mean to follow that God for ourselves.

Jonah’s story doesn’t move forward with obedience, but with a man sinking—cut off, out of options, and facing the consequences of his own running. From the deepest place imaginable, Jonah discovers that no depth is beyond God’s reach, and that rescue begins not with self-reliance, but with a cry for help.

What if the disruptions in our lives aren’t signs that God is angry or absent, but moments of pursuit meant to wake us up? In the story of Jonah, we meet a God who doesn’t give up on people who run, but keeps moving toward them—and invites us to consider how our choices impact the people around us.

We spend our lives building careers, families, and reputations—only to watch them collapse under pressure. Jesus ends his sermon with a challenge: build your life on him, and you’ll have a foundation that lasts.

We’re quick to point fingers, call people out, or write them off. Jesus confronts our judgment and flips it, inviting us to treat others with the same grace, empathy, and patience we desperately want for ourselves.

Anxiety is at an all-time high, and we’re constantly chasing security through money, possessions, or control. Jesus offers a new way forward—freedom from worry through trust in a God who provides.

Our world screams that more is always better—more food, more comfort, more stuff. But Jesus shows us that stepping back, even through fasting, can break our addictions and free us to actually live.

Prayer often feels like talking to the ceiling, or something only “spiritual people” do. But Jesus reframes it as everyday access to heaven’s resources, right here and now.

We’ve all seen it—the person who does good but makes sure everyone notices. Jesus warns us about turning generosity into self-promotion, pointing instead to a hidden way of living that actually matters.

We live in a world obsessed with image, likes, and carefully managed appearances. But Jesus calls out our endless need to impress, inviting us into a life defined not by approval but by radical honesty and love.

Anger, lust, and broken relationships—these don’t just ruin our lives, they trap us. Jesus cuts to the root, showing how real change happens not by suppressing desire, but by transforming the heart.

Religion often feels like a heavy rulebook or a checklist we can’t keep. Jesus shocks the crowd by saying he’s not throwing it out—he’s fulfilling it. He reveals what it looks like to live with integrity, not performance.

Most of us feel too small to make a difference. Jesus says otherwise—you are salt and light, created to influence the world around you in ways you’ve never imagined.

We’re told a good life comes from success, money, and being in control. But why do the people who “have it all” still feel empty? Jesus calls the overlooked and underestimated “blessed,” revealing a different path to true happiness.

Most of us assume God’s way is for the ultra-religious or the morally polished. But Jesus opens his most famous sermon by gathering ordinary, broken, skeptical people. His way isn’t for the few—it’s for everyone.

Everything around us tells us to try harder. Be better. Get it together. We live in a culture that runs on hustle — where identity and value are earned by effort, performance, and self-reliance. But what if the way of Jesus is different? What if transformation begins not by doing more, but by receiving what we could never earn?

In this series, we’re exploring the surprising, generous way of Jesus. He doesn’t meet us with shame, but with compassion. He doesn’t demand perfection, but offers a fresh start. He gives peace where we carry anxiety, rest where we carry exhaustion, and hope where we feel stuck. This isn’t about giving up — it’s about opening up. Maybe what your soul needs most isn’t to try harder, but to try less... and receive what only Jesus can give.

Everything around us tells us to try harder. Be better. Get it together. We live in a culture that runs on hustle — where identity and value are earned by effort, performance, and self-reliance. But what if the way of Jesus is different? What if transformation begins not by doing more, but by receiving what we could never earn?

In this series, we’re exploring the surprising, generous way of Jesus. He doesn’t meet us with shame, but with compassion. He doesn’t demand perfection, but offers a fresh start. He gives peace where we carry anxiety, rest where we carry exhaustion, and hope where we feel stuck. This isn’t about giving up — it’s about opening up. Maybe what your soul needs most isn’t to try harder, but to try less... and receive what only Jesus can give.

Everything around us tells us to try harder. Be better. Get it together. We live in a culture that runs on hustle — where identity and value are earned by effort, performance, and self-reliance. But what if the way of Jesus is different? What if transformation begins not by doing more, but by receiving what we could never earn?

Sometimes life has us wondering- when is God going to show up and intervene? Waiting on God can be frustrating, lonely, and sacred. In Psalm 62, we are invited to wait in silence on God as our refuge and to pour out our hearts with him as our safe place.

From P. Diddy to Mother Teresa, people in crisis and people in purpose turn to one unexpected place: the Psalms. Why do these ancient poems speak so powerfully to our modern lives? Because these ancient songs know what it’s like to be human—and where to find God in it all. 

The Psalms are not polite.

They rage, rejoice, accuse, confess, worship, and weep—sometimes all in one breath.

They don’t sound like a church service; they sound like real life.

If you’ve ever felt too angry to pray, too ashamed to hope, or too tired to care—the Psalms understand.

And here’s the surprise: in all that raw, emotional honesty… God shows up.

These ancient poems aren’t just our words to God—they become places where we meet God, maybe even when we least expect it.

You are wired to make a difference—and someone needs what God put in you.

You don’t need to find your tribe—you were made for a body.

I keep falling into the same patterns—can anything really be different? You don’t have to stay stuck—God can transform your mind, heart, and future.

We live in a world that promises more — more success, more affirmation, more life — but somehow leaves us emptier than ever. What if the life you’re searching for doesn’t come from chasing more, but from giving yourself fully to something bigger?

This week, discover how Romans 12:1 invites you to reclaim your true humanity and find the wholeness your soul has been aching for.

Series finale of Creed: Resurrection of the body & life everlasting

In a culture obsessed with cancelation and revenge, forgiveness feels outdated or even unjust. But when the early church declared, “I believe in the forgiveness of sins,” they weren’t just talking about God’s mercy toward them—they were choosing to become a community marked by mercy. What if, the way in is the way on… and that way is forgiveness?

In a time and age filled with uncertainty, it is natural to need a sense of control, whether real or perceived. This can throw us into a life of reaching for and striving for what we think is best for us and for others. But, history tells you and I that what we think is best isn’t always best. What if the way forward isn’t more of what we think we and the world need, but to actually heed the leadership of someone else, Jesus our Lord.

What if God isn’t distant—but closer than your next breath? What if the power to change, to heal, to live with purpose isn’t something you have to find—but Someone already reaching for you? Discover the presence of the Holy Spirit—real, active, and available.

The resurrection of Jesus is the culmination of all that preceded it, in God’s story of creation, Fall and redemption. And it is the essential foundation for all that follows, until all things are made new. In Jesus, one of us has already experienced what God has planned for all of us. Of this, the Ascension and Pentecost are the guarantees.

Jesus, God in the flesh, really lived, really died, and really rose again. All this, including what the Apostles Creed calls "descending into hell" accomplishes our salvation, inaugurates the new creation, and fills the whole universe with the good news of God's saving grace.

In a time and age filled with uncertainty, it is natural to need a sense of control, whether real or perceived. This can throw us into a life of reaching for and striving for what we think is best for us and for others. But, history tells you and I that what we think is best isn’t always best. What if the way forward isn’t more of what we think we and the world need, but to actually heed the leadership of someone else, Jesus our Lord.

In a time and age in which information is constantly changing and misinformation is constantly increasing, it can be hard to know what to believe. If belief precedes behavior, then we can all agree that figuring out what we believe is crucial. Maybe we don’t need something new, but something true, to help bring clarity and purpose into our lives.

St. Thérèse of Lisieux is considered by many one of the greatest saints to ever live, and yet during her short life she lived in obscurity. Thérèse guides us to notice how our small and quiet everyday lives are an invitation to be shaped into the image of Christ. Together, we consider how God is forming us through our everyday interactions into the people we are meant to become in Him.

Ever feel like your life is out of control? Would you consider this time in your life unsteady or maybe even crazy? We have a natural tendency that when things feel out of control, we try to gain control by any means necessary...but is that best?

In a culture of “do better, try harder,” it is easy to busy ourselves in the effort of finding more fulfillment, more purpose, more status. Yet, no matter how many times we try this, we come up empty, still missing what it seems we are truly desiring. The good news is that there is “more” for you and I, but it does not come in the form we are most familiar with… it comes in a form that asks us to receive, to humble ourselves, and to look out beyond ourselves. 

The call of the gospel to follow Christ in redemptively engaging with the world is a radical break from the exclusive self-concern that dominates most family and tribal loyalties, religious systems, and nationalistic ideologies. It is a continuation of the call to wider faith and focus that is at the core of Israel’s covenant relationship with God. Titus 3 highlights some of the critical truths that make this radical outward shift of our heart and concern possible.

The call of the gospel to follow Christ in redemptively engaging with the world is a radical break from the exclusive self-concern that dominates most family and tribal loyalties, religious systems, and nationalistic ideologies. It is a continuation of the call to wider faith and focus that is at the core of Israel’s covenant relationship with God. Deuteronomy 10:12-22 highlights some of the critical truths that make this radical outward shift of our heart and concern possible.

Money is the root of all evil, something never said but often quoted. Actually, “the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” The second seems to be a greater caution, as the object of money isn’t the danger, it’s our association with it. Are you aware of your relationship to money? To your stuff? 

If not aware, money and possessions can become the greatest force in our lives, for better or worse. Jesus offers a way forward to choose resistance to ourselves, to actually live greater than ourselves when it comes to our money.

“Be yourself!” We are encouraged at every turn to live authentically, to not suppress our true self, and to express ourselves at all costs. While there are great benefits in this cultural moment of growing in expression of identity, what about when just being ourselves isn’t helpful, and at times even harmful? Jesus offers a way forward to choose resistance to ourselves, to actually live greater than ourselves.

What if the very things you reach for to satisfy your cravings are the same things keeping you restless and disconnected? Fasting invites us to step away from the noise and distractions of life to confront our deepest needs and open ourselves to God’s transformative presence. In letting go, we discover that true satisfaction isn’t found in fulfilling every desire but in making space for the One who truly fills us.

Most often, the quickest way to peace is for our circumstances to be or become favorable. To never get news of the diagnoses, for the relationship to magically repair, the unexpected check in the mail to erase the debt… but this isn’t reality is it? Jesus offers a reality beyond our visibility that can bring peace, even when life isn’t peaceful.

“People are in one of two categories, the haves or the have nots.” Another way of saying this, people either lack or don’t lack. But lack goes beyond whether someone possesses something or not, doesn’t it? You could have much and yet still live from lack or you could have little and actually lack nothing. Are you aware of the ways in which you live from a place of lack? Maybe, through better understanding our relationship to lack, we could better access a peace that is beyond our ability to achieve.

“Peace be with you,” a common refrain of Jesus. Sometimes, it can be hard to believe this peace is available given our unwanted circumstances and undesired challenges. Though, there has been a promise that has stood the test of time, that has changed the face of the earth and that has compelled people to live with hope and joy in the midst of suffering, a promise of Peace.

The story of Noah's Ark is more than a tale of floods and animals—it’s a profound critique of human wickedness, divine justice, and God's unrelenting grace. How does the ancient flood narrative shape our understanding of a God who chooses mercy over destruction, even when the human heart remains bent toward chaos?

The first murder in scripture, Cain gets angry and kills his brother Abel. As westerners, we may be inclined to read this story and think “well, someone was going to kill someone eventually.” Or maybe, “wow, at least I am not like Cain.” But, what if pausing to ask certain questions invites us into the story that helps make sense of ourselves and all that’s wrong in the world… a sense that helps you and I live with more peace, freedom and integrity that changes the world.

A talking snake, a forbidden apple, nakedness and fig leaves, Genesis can seem to be a far off story in a far off land. What if the problems aren’t there to be dismissed but can give direction? Direction that brings meaning and purpose, better able to make sense of what drives us and defines us which often leads to shame, guilt and fear.

It doesn’t necessarily tell us how, but it does tell us who and maybe even why. While written long ago, and our rational minds struggling to make sense of it all, what if the creation account of Genesis 1 was more relevant than ever? An account beyond the superficial and fleeting ways we try to find meaning, identity and purpose today.

Oftentimes, we don’t notice the current we are swimming in until it takes us away. In a political season like this one, two opposing forces are asking us to be for one and against the other. There seems to be a drift toward polarization, division and hatred as part of choosing our party. If we want to become more beautiful, peaceful and unifying people, we are invited notice the drift and resist.

Together we will explore the context and experiences of Julian of Norwich that led to her famous quote: “Sin is inevitable. All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.” We will notice how God relates to us in our pain and how to find him in the midst of our suffering.

Each election season comes with polarizing commitments and promises by politicians, whether it be in regard to inflation and taxes, jobs and borders, domestic and foreign policy. Each of these commitments and promises are for your benefit, each side having a different agenda to speak to their audiences desires, needs and even core fears though they tend to divide in divisive ways.

What if, no matter the political side of the aisle you stand, there was a way to stay connected amidst the polarization. Connected to a God who is above it all yet working in it all, connected to your co-workers, neighbors and family even though you disagree, and connected to others in a way that brings you purpose and significance?

“Trust me.” Have you ever had anyone say this to you and it just didn’t land? No matter how much you wanted it to be true, there was too much evidence to the contrary, that even while they may be trustworthy, all hope was lost? 

As you look around the world, as you look at the political landscape in America, do you have hope that things can be made better? That people can turn it all around? What if trust is a way forward, even when you can’t see it and even when everything may not be turned around. Where have you placed your trust in this season?

We may only use the word “allegiance” when reciting the pledge of allegiance or maybe reading a fictional novel, but in reality, we give our allegiance everyday. Your time, your money, your affections, you are placing your loyalty regularly. Your family, your friends, your work all ask for your fidelity. Political parties and support groups, vying for your commitment at every turn.

The question isn’t whether or not you are pledging your allegiance, the question is whether you are aware, to what or to whom you are placing your allegiance?

Just a little more therapy, a bit more success, the right amount of service, eventually we will become complete and whole people. But you’ve tried it, and yet, things still seem to be not what you sense they could be.

What if, while none of these are in and of themselves bad, they may never complete us. Counterintuitively, Paul who was once skeptical of Christianity to a point of imprisoning and persecuting Christians, implores us that meaning and purpose and wholeness is not found in trying to fix and save ourselves, but to receive a savior who is all loving and merciful. Do you need rescuing?

Jesus came on the scene and part of resetting all of life into its rightful order, he cautioned that the fullness of life is not found in the accumulation of more (more money, more possessions, more status), but in the contrary. In our busy, cluttered and stressful world, Jesus offers to us that finding more is actually found in less, and the practice of simplicity is a way of creating room for the peace, love and unity which he offers.

Jesus came on the scene and part of resetting all of life into its rightful order, he cautioned that the fullness of life is not found in the accumulation of more (more money, more possessions, more status), but in the contrary. In our busy, cluttered and stressful world, Jesus offers to us that finding more is actually found in less, and the practice of simplicity is a way of creating room for the peace, love and unity which he offers.

Practice: Give financially as a way of simplifying your desires, practicing a life of generosity.

Jesus came on the scene and part of resetting all of life into its rightful order, he cautioned that the fullness of life is not found in the accumulation of more (more money, more possessions, more status), but in the contrary. In our busy, cluttered and stressful world, Jesus offers to us that finding more is actually found in less, and the practice of simplicity is a way of creating room for the peace, love and unity which he offers.

Practice: Consider all that you have in your life (people, possessions, etc.), and spend some time at least two times writing down 3 things you are grateful for, allowing your awareness of God to grow in your life.

Jesus came on the scene and part of resetting all of life into its rightful order, he cautioned that the fullness of life is not found in the accumulation of more (more money, more possessions, more status), but in the contrary. In our busy, cluttered and stressful world, Jesus offers to us that finding more is actually found in less, and the practice of simplicity is a way of creating room for the peace, love and unity which he offers.

Practice: Consider the vision and values you have for your life, then give something of value away which you possess that may not be furthering said vision and/or values.

We may think that we are a powerful woman, or our own man, but we are much more products of our culture than we know. During these brief two weeks, we explore two key ideas, two unnoticed values, that are shaping our lives in ways that we often do not see. What Lies Beneath can make it hard for us to live life to the fullest.

We may think that we are a powerful woman, or our own man, but we are much more products of our culture than we know. During these brief two weeks, we explore two key ideas, two unnoticed values, that are shaping our lives in ways that we often do not see. What Lies Beneath can make it hard for us to live life to the fullest.

We long for meaningful relationships and carry wounds from broken ones. What can we learn about friendship from a group of friends who break social rules and reveal the true foundations of friendship?

In this week's Cautionary Tale, we look to Herod to see how self protection and preservation, when left unchecked can lead us to a very dark place.

In this cautionary tale, Judas Iscariot demonstrates the danger of using Jesus as a means to an end, inviting us to consider “who do you want me to be?” rather than “what’s in it for me?”

The Old Testament story of King Saul reminds us that self-awareness is a great antidote to self-deception and that your deepest character flaws don’t have to define you, you can allow them to refine you.

At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, because this was your good pleasure. All things have been entrusted to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son desires to reveal him. “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Matthew 11:25-28

Juggling work, friendships, and social commitments; The pressure to always be available and responsive to all; Worrying about finances, health, or relationships; Feeling uncertain about your goals or future; Comparison to others whether scrolling a feed or relating to a colleague. Would you say you are more rested or restless?

While the busyness and/or stressors of your life may stay the same, what if you could live from a deeper place of rest? In spite of your current season, you could still be a person who others look to for inspiration, joy-filled, calm in your responses, peace in your direction, content in all things. It may feel counterintuitive, but Jesus invites us to a life of rest, and not just to hit more REM sleep at night, but to actually find it deep within our souls.

Christians can be known for many things, and if we are honest, many of them are not good. From being judgmental, hypocritical or know-it-all’s at the least, for those looking on, following Jesus may not seem very attractive.

What does seem attractive? At the least, people who are non-anxious, filled with joy beyond their circumstances and able to love deeply, especially those who are different from them. When we look at the life of Jesus, this seems to be the type of people Jesus is inviting us to become, so why then is it so hard to attain?

How do you most often relate to God; distantly, casually or respectfully? While these can be common ways of relating, these don’t actually satisfy the depth at which you want to relate does it? You want to feel more connected than you do, your hope is to sense a greater peace and joy beyond your circumstances, you desire to be fully seen and accepted in spite of your pains and brokenness.

The scriptures point to a God who invites us to a relationship of depth; the fullness of knowing and being known, the ease of experiencing and understanding, the gift of connection and conversation. God the Father invites us to a relationship defined by intimacy.

How might God be inviting you to join the work he is already up to?

Jesus’ new way, implores a new you

Though short, Paul’s letter to Philemon packs a powerful punch, helping us to change the way we see, to change the way we’ll be.

As life goes on, we can often forget that at one time, we were created. Very quickly, life becomes our own… our own plans, our own ambitions, our own achievements. But in this, things don’t always seem to work out perfectly do they? Within us and around us, no matter how much we live true to ourselves, it feels like things aren’t the way they are supposed to be.

The scriptures offer that we were created by the God of the universe who knows us inside and out, created us and cherishes us, in the good and the broken. If it’s true that you and I were created, may our creator have an intended purpose for the way things were supposed to be and who we were supposed to be?

Authoritarian or apathetic? Commanding or complacent? Intrusive or indifferent? While we’re talking extremes, how do you most often view God? From parents to coaches, teachers to relatives, how we have experienced authority figures in our lives shapes our view of them which then in turn influences how we relate to them.

Jesus entered into a culture that already had ways of relating to authority, holding a tension between the polarization of legalism or permissiveness. Whether the lens of your spirituality relates to God holding a gavel to maintain order, or the parent backstage of American Idol who couldn’t disappoint their kid by telling them they can’t sing, we may be surprised by the spirituality of Jesus who invites us to the center to reimagine these polar opposites. 

It’s helpful to know where people stand, isn’t it? You can better know who and how to relate, how much or how little to trust, who you can learn from and who you can’t. Sometimes though, knowing where someone stands can be synonymous with lines drawn, lines that can be ostracizing, judgmental and even hypocritical. 

Jesus entered into a culture with a lot of lines already drawn, and it seemed that he was erasing many of them, but to what extent? Whether the lens of your spirituality wants to see more or less lines, we may be surprised by the spirituality of Jesus and how he is calling both sides to the center, reimagining how lines work. 

For many Christians, our faith can often be most demonstrated by what we believe. But as many can attest, especially those watching on from a distance, simply believing in something doesn’t always lead to the change our world needs… love. As we look to the life of Jesus, it seems his life and teachings transcend believing in something (though it can start there), and are more about becoming something.

To live well includes being honest about the reality of suffering, but also, knowing that it willeventually end. In the physical resurrection of Jesus Christ, we see that those who are given to all that is good, are made more alive than ever, after they have suffered. The resurrection calls us to the Way of Jesus, knowing that if we do, one day our suffering will also turn into life that never ends.

To continue doing what is good and right, even as we suffer, we often need a whole different view of reality. Christian faith teaches us that the greatest person who ever lived, Jesus of Nazareth, suffered immensely. Our understanding of reality includes the claim that God, himself, enters into suffering with us, and even experiences it himself.

To name reality is to go a long way to breaking some of its power. Choosing to be as honest aspossible, with God and others about our hurts, can keep us from sinking further into the abyss. It might even keep us from hurting other people as we hurt ourselves.

To heal, to grow, to become a beautiful soul, involves intentionally seeking to comfort otherswho are suffering. Good and wise people seek ways to use their own pain as a calling to bless others.

To be able to handle our hurts and losses in a healthy way, it is actually helpful to have a perspective that is beyond this life. If we primarily focus on having a happy and comfortable existence in this world, our pain and suffering only grow. But if we focus beyond this existence, we might gain a perspective that helps us to keep going.

To be human, to be alive, is to suffer. Contemporary America, in an effort to sell us things andrally us around causes, tells us that a better life is right around the corner, one without much pain. But whether we are a good and decent person, or a messy and selfish person, suffering comes for us all.

Handouts:

• "Everybody Hurts"

Romans 8:28, whether a Christian or non-christian, a verse you are at least vaguely familiar with. Though commonly used, we can still be left with many questions; If God is working good, why do bad things happen? If God works, what do I do? If good things are for those who love God, why do good things happen to those who don’t?

Handouts

Talking with God

Romans 8:28, whether a Christian or non-christian, a verse you are at least vaguely familiar with. Though commonly used, we can still be left with many questions; If God is working good, why do bad things happen? If God works, what do I do? If good things are for those who love God, why do good things happen to those who don’t?

Romans 8:28, whether a Christian or non-christian, a verse you are at least vaguely familiar with. Though commonly used, we can still be left with many questions; If God is working good, why do bad things happen? If God works, what do I do? If good things are for those who love God, why do good things happen to those who don’t?

How do you handle interruptions in your life?

If you watch the life of Jesus, he couldn’t get much done. On the road, in the middle of teaching, while having dinner, people were constantly interrupting him and he seemed to just go with it.

What’s maybe crazier, he seemed to assume that other people liked being interrupted, inviting people to drop what they were doing, leave their life behind and asking them to “follow him.”

What if God not only works through our plans, but also through what’s unplanned? Would you be more “interruptible?”

Whose story are you living?

Whether we like it or not as individuals, the story of our lives is influenced more by things like social location, cultural context, authority figures, media, etc. more than we’d like to think.

The Bible, when read in a contemplative, prayerful and open way creates space for the story of our life to be influenced by all that is good… Jesus. Inviting us to a more beautiful story than we could ever write on our own.

Handouts:

• BREAD Practice

The Bible: Relevant, Clear, Exact or Ancient, Ambiguous, Contradictory? Maybe, the approach to it matters. Whatever your relationship to the ancient scriptures, there are practical tools that help us join in on the unified story that is pointing to Jesus.

Handouts:

• Discovery Bible Study

Can you recognize where God is at work in your story? Or, are you able to place where you are in the story of God? These two questions, though simple, are profound and often hard to answer in our modern lives today. To answer well, we may need to slow down and prayerfully examine our lives.

This Sunday, we try on a practice called the Grand Examen, helping us to prayerfully reflect on 2023 and look ahead to 2024 in hopes that we can better locate where God has shown up in our story, and where we are showing up in his.

Handouts:

• Grand Examen Reflection Packet
• Rule of Life Packet

"I praise God not because of my circumstances, but because of who God is." -Elizabeth Elliot

How do you respond to something unexpected and unwanted entering your life? In Jesus, God offers us a way that can bring peace in any circumstance, though it’s probably different from our most natural response.

Advent is a time of great anticipation and hope. Our honest longings help prepare us to both experience and offer hope to others.

Editor's note: there was an audio issue with the recording, so the first few minutes of the message are not present.

Wanting to fix what’s wrong or who’s wrong, fatigued from exhausting your own abilities and/or understanding, hopeless in the change you want to take place. Though counterintuitive, to trust God in uncertainty could look like yielding to his will through consistent and repeated prayer.

Handout: The Lord's Prayer

Relationships are strained, questioning who to trust, wanting to pull away from the world to avoid disagreement and conflict. Though counterintuitive, to trust God in uncertainty could look like sharing your life with Jesus and inviting others on the journey.

Editor's note: there was a microphone issue with the first few minutes of the message, so the first few minutes of the message are not present in this recording.

Stressed and burnt out, looking for a sense of comfort and control, you naturally turn to consumption. The late night snacks, the drive-through meals, the choice beverage. Though counterintuitive, to trust God in uncertainty could look like eating less and praying more.

Working harder to find a sense of control. Spending more energy to manage relationships. No matter what you try, you never feel like you can take a full breath, wake fully rested, and feeling “connected” is out of the question. Though counterintuitive, to trust God in uncertainty could look like intentionally working less and resting more.

Up: Interest rates, gas prices, living costs. Down: Job security, investment returns, affordable housing. A natural response could be to tighten up, pull back and protect what you have. Though counterintuitive, to trust God in uncertainty could look like giving away more than you ever have before.

Why are we here? What is the purpose of life? What does it mean to live well? In our complex, global, and struggling world, numerous sources claim to have the answer to the biggest questions of life. We will explore together three different popular responses to these questions and the historically Christian response. (However, it may be something that you don't really like.)

A new restaurant in town, a ride at Disneyland, pre-ordered tickets to a concert… waiting for something can communicate value.

The transformational power of waiting by God communicates how valuable you and I are to him. No matter how far gone or how close to home, his waiting turns to running when we open ourselves to experience his compassion for us.

• What are Personal Boundaries?
• Boundaries Exploration
• Healthy Boundaries Tips and Ten Laws of Boundaries

When we open our lives to the Spirit of Jesus, we encounter Power. We are not given divine energy to become successful, but ability to bless others in very specific ways.

Spiritual gifts handout

When we open our lives to the Spirit of Jesus, we encounter a Prophetic Spirit. We are not given a detailed picture of future events, but often insight to what God may have for a specific community, person or situation.

When we open our lives to the Spirit of Jesus, we encounter a Healing Spirit. We are not guaranteed a once and for all miracle cure, but access to a Spirit that can bring healing to anything.

When we open our lives to the Spirit of Jesus, we have an encounter with Truth. We are not given the right answers, but insights into what is Good.

At every point in life, we get to choose where we put our hope. Now, if we have so many options, why does it seem we can still be left hopeless? Why does it seem our only option is to find something else, or someone else, searching for a sense of hope again? Over, and over, and over again.

We believe Jesus offers a different kind of hope through his life, death, burial and resurrection. One that lasts. One that is constant. One that doesn't leave us searching all over again. Though, it's different from how we might naturally think or desire. It requires… patience.

Jesus accepts the invitation to hang out and eat with the respectable in society. However, it becomes clear, that only those who recognize their need can benefit from dining and interacting with him.

Jesus chooses to eat with those who are considered undesirable, out of bounds, even dangerously immoral. Jesus seeks those who are struggling. Is he seeking you? Is he calling you to seek others who are internally twisted and confused?

Finally, John is given a glimpse of where everything is going- the evil are judged and the virtuous are vindicated. Even more, everything is restored to how it should be.

John is led to understand that the leader(s) of this world are often in opposition to all that is Good, to the Way of God. Mass messaging is used to lead people astray.

The images that John sees go to a higher level- it becomes clear to him that there is a spiritual battle being waged, behind all of the earthly struggles that human beings experience.

John has a vision of Christ opening seals that announce mass destruction to earthly life as we know it. The finality of this world’s order (and of the rich and powerful who oversee it) is interpreted as ultimate freedom by virtuous souls, found in every culture, around the globe. 

While John of Patmos seeks God while in prison, he has a personal experience of Christ. He is startled with the vivid vision of how the one who was crucified is truly the king.

Relational connections are built by those who commit to others, despite their personal problems, and how they may cause hurts.

Relational connections are built by those who know that they are not able to be everything that another person needs.

Relational connections are built by those who can admit their personal shortcomings and who realize that they are dependent on others’ kindness.

Relational connections are built by those who seek to understand the other first and share their perspective later.

Relational connections are built by humble people who know that there is much that they do not know.

We tend to think that it is helpful to have boundaries, to shield ourselves from those who think we are wrong, to surround ourselves with good vibes. However, the ancients encourage us to consider that what we are missing, what we truly need, may only be found among those who disagree with us.

We tend to think that is helpful to have family and career goals, to develop a strategy to find the life of our dreams. However, the ancients encourage us to consider focusing instead on the kind of person we are becoming, giving attention to growing in virtue, and then leaving the details of our lives to our Creator.

We tend to think that authenticity requires us to speak our minds, to share our truth, to let everyone know where we stand. However, the ancients encourage us to consider the value of being careful with what we say and to find the value of keeping some of our opinions to ourselves.

We tend to be concerned about the economy, about gas prices, about making sure we have enough to pay the bills. However, the ancients encourage us to consider the value of giving our money away to others.

We tend to imagine that few things can be better than enjoying lots of great food and fine wine with good-looking people. However, the ancients encourage us to consider that a life spent seeking physical pleasures can lead to ruin.

We tend to talk about work/life balance, concerning ourselves with the potential negative effects of working too much. However, the ancients encourage us to consider the value of working long hours, and even more, the struggles and the emptiness that may arise from taking life too easy.

We tend to think that it is most healthy to have a “positive” view of God, that he is our spirit friend, who is always cheering us on. However, the ancients encourage us to consider the benefits of truly fearing our Creator, recognizing that the wrong path can lead to destruction.

No matter your age, life seems to work in cliques. You know who you like and who you like to be around, knowingly or unknowingly drawing lines around who you don’t like and who you don’t like to be around. For Luke, Jesus seems to turn the socio-relational dynamics of his day on their head… could he still be today by inviting the least expected?

There is always a breaking point in a relationship, where someone has “gone too far” or might be seen as a “lost cause.” Contrary to our normal ways of behaving, could God be a God who never gives up on us, even when we’ve “gone off the edge”?

Most of us will spend our days doing what we can to avoid challenges in life, including being challenged by others. But, what if there is more on the other side of each challenge than we can see in the midst? Could God be at work in the challenge?

Whether it be physically, mentally, emotionally or relationally, life is filled with challenge and pain. Many of the things we often turn to for soothing never last long enough, falling short of what we really need. Could God be a source of true and ultimate soothing? 

Often in life, there are certain criteria or expectations needing to be met in order to receive something or have someone respond to us. What about when we aren’t getting it right, or we just aren’t alright, does God still respond?

Jesus is probably most known for being crucified. He willingly led the kind of life that resulted in the powers bringing down their wrath upon him.

Jesus was not simply one who left others feeling positive and optimistic. He regularly encouraged others to see that much of what they assumed and expected about their larger world, wouldn’t last forever.

Jesus had a reputation for physically healing the sick and spiritually delivering those who were oppressed. People came to him to find deliverance from all sorts of personal pain.

Jesus regularly taught people about spiritual truths. However, his speaking and sharing invited people to deeper levels of reflection and was anything but simple and clear.

Jesus invited others to find personal change by actively following his patten. As part of this way of life, he called them to also impact the lives of others.

Jesus made his personal formation, his inner connection with our Creator, a top priority. Out of these spiritual experiences, he invited others to also find this new kind of life.

Powerful people want to be in control of others. They assume it is best to assure that others live normal, decent lives, as the larger culture expects of them. But the Spirit of God leads us to become people that are something completely new and different than most of our peers.

Genuine people, according to our culture, follow their interests and not the rules others place on them. However, spiritual freedom is demonstrated through controlled goodness, and not simply through pleasing our appetites. 

Life is hard. Our world feels chaotic and unpredictable. In times like these, it is often tempting to “go back” to living like our old, familiar patterns. But the Way of Jesus consistently calls us to what is new and better, even if it is somewhat uncomfortable.

Respected people often make great sacrifices to become whom the culture would like them to be. But Jesus Christ was crucified. He was rejected by his larger culture. To go his way, therefore, can mean to live a life that leads our larger culture to reject us.