John 17
Who are you? There are many aspects of your identity that can go into answering that question. This week we listen to Jesus pray in order to hear what defines His identity, and what ought to define ours, as well.
The Lord's Other Prayer: Jesus Prays
John 17
We begin a new series listening in on the conversation at the center of the universe. The three major themes of Jesus's prayer to His Father emboldened us to live into and live out of His requests.
Why Is Faith in Jesus Real?
1 John 1:1–4
Our faith in Jesus, for those who trust Him, is real, because Jesus' life, death, and resurrection is based on eye-witness testimony of who Jesus was and is!
The Forgotten Women of Christmas: A Woman Clothed with the Sun
Revelation 12:1-17
There's one more woman in Jesus's genealogy worth mentioning. Matthew doesn't mention her, but John does. Let's not forget her. She's part of God's unfolding plan, too!
Discussion Questions
What Mary Ponders
Luke 2:15–19
With all that happens at the birth of Jesus, is it any surprise that Mary ponders? But Mary's not just thinking thoughts, she's letting the reality of this birth work deep into her life. Are you willing to ponder?
The Forgotten Women of Christmas: Bathsheba
2 Samuel 11:1-5, 14-17; 12:1-7
David and Bathsheba, another messy story in the genealogy of Jesus. No woman should have to experience what Bathsheba did. No person is beyond doing what David did. This is why we need Christmas.
The Forgotten Women of Christmas: Blessings Come with Faith
Ruth 1–4
The Book of Ruth is love story, but it’s also a story about reaping what one sows. Ruth chose to trust God and stay with her mother-in-law and see things through and in the end was blessed.
Discussion Questions
The Forgotten Women of Christmas: Rahab
Joshua 2:1–21
Rahab is willing to put her life on the line by showing kindness to two spies, but she does it because she's heard of the reputation of YHWH, the God of Israel. God's reputation leads us to take risks. Kindness can be risky business, how well do you know God's reputation?
The Forgotten Women of Christmas: Tamar
Genesis 38:1-30
Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba—four women in Jesus's lineage that are often forgotten when considering the Christmas story. This week we look at Tamar and see that, despite all our tangled webs of deception, hope still breaks through.
Comfort in Affliction (and vice versa)
Revelation 3:7–22
Christ's comfort to those just hanging on, and a warning to those who have found comfort elsewhere...
Discussion Notes
Come Back! - Injustice
Amos 5:4–15
Justice is dear to the heart of God and so He sends the prophet Amos to call His people out of injustice and back to Himself. Come back to the best justice there is.
Come Back! - Immorality
Hosea 4:1-3; 12-14
When God calls his people back from not living what is good and right for their lives, He likens their immorality to infidelity to a marriage commitment. When we understand the commitment, our immorality is so shallow.
Come Back! - Idolatry
2 Kings 17:6–18
When God, through His prophets, called His people back to relationship, He always addressed their idolatry, immorality and/or injustice. Since we don't bow down to statues, is idolatry still a relevant issue for us?
Loss & Ichabod
1 Samuel 4
First Nations friends have experienced devastating loss. And yet they are resilient! After facing a crushing loss, how’d people in this biblical story respond? How do we?
The audio for this sermon is available by request only. Click to email the church office.
Bulletin and Sermon Notes
Gentle and Lowly: God Shows His Love
Romans 5:6–11
We wrap up the sermon series looking at God's truest heart, shown in love that reaches back in our past and all the way into our future. There's only one response to such expansive love!
Gentle and Lowly: Rich in Mercy
Ephesians 2:1–7
It's one thing to be rich, it's another thing to be rich and generous! This Sunday we learn how God shows His generosity of mercy. The implications for everyday life are staggering!
Gentle and Lowly: The LORD, the LORD
Exodus 34:5–8
Moses and God's people are in crisis and so Moses cries out to God, "Show me your glory!" What the LORD reveals knocks Moses off his feet. How do we respond?
Sermon Notes
Gentle and Lowly: Beautiful Friend
The times we're living in are causing stress and division even among friends. When we see Jesus as the beautiful friend He is, He offers not only a model but more importantly the means for being a beautiful friend to others.
Gentle and Lowly: Not in Wrath
Hosea 11:1–9
How do you expect God to react to your sinfulness? Do you expect to be yelled at? Do you expect to be punished? In Hosea 11, God offers a response to the sins of His people that will take your breath away!
Gentle and Lowly: Drawn into Our Distress
Hebrews 4:14–5:5
Following along with chapters 3-5 in Gentle and Lowly, we'll consider what it means for Jesus to be our High Priest. This isn't dry theology; this reveals to us the heart of Jesus that is drawn into our distress.