What does the Bible entail, and is it possible for an individual to experience a relationship with Jesus independently of it? New Testament believers did not embrace the concept of modern, western biblical inerrancy either, because they were taught that the purpose of scripture was to point them to a perfect Jesus, not a perfect manuscript.
You Don't Receive Jesus into Your Heart... He's Received You into HIS! Because many individuals have either left their faith in God or have intentionally shunned a relationship with Jesus because of the legalistic, condemning, evangelical interpretation of who God accepts and loves.
What if early Jesus followers didn't preach escaping hell and making heaven! What if God destroying all sinful people and the world in the end by fire and wrath is myth!? Would this make a difference in how you live and enjoy other people and your own life NOW? Don't miss Pt3 of this new Series (7 Things), Escaping Wrath... just not God's!
Many things people believe about God and their identity are lies. We believe these lies because we were told the Bible says it . . . and it doesn't. In Part II of our series we'll address the question, was the Cross a place of punishment required by God's wrath, so people could be forgiven go to Heaven?
Many things people believe about God and their identity are lies. We believe these lies because we were told the Bible says it . . . and it doesn't. This series is dedicated to exposing harmful, destructive beliefs so people can truly enter vibrant relationship with the God who loves them more than his OWN life!
Doubt is the enemy of faith only when you equate faith with certainty! Lets examine what James really said, "ask in faith nothing doubting." Sunday at 10:30a
Faith isn’t a cosmic download of information and “correct” beliefs we can be certain about!
If you are AFRAID of God, ANGRY at God, INDIFFERENT towards God, DISMISSIVE of God, DONE with God! . . . you're right where you need to be. Jesus invites you to REST from it all. From the loneliness, the pain, the hiding, all the effort -- and just REST!
Paul Young - "The alternative to magic is relationship, which is full of mystery and the loss of control. Magic is about knowing the right incantations, formulas, and performances. Relationship is about trust."
A god who is distant, one who must be sought, found, received, or held onto, is NOT the loving God of scripture or His son, Jesus. Such a god is the NOISE of religion--a distraction from the image (likeness) of God you already are. We must address this distraction... we can quiet the noise!
Phil 4:6 Mirror "Let no anxiety about anything distract you. Rather translate moments into prayerful worship, and soak your requests in gratitude before God."
As God's grace unfolds in our lives and we renew our minds, we become aware that instead of me bringing Christ into my life, my life has always been IN HIM . . . I've never NOT belonged to Him!
Most people, religious or not, presume a direct link between sin and suffering. Jesus confronts and obliterates this lie through a perfect demonstration of love and healing… The scandal of suffering.
God dispenses gifts, NOT wages. None of us gets paid according to merit!
The religious mind often changes the Good News from a story of God's unconditional, loving acceptance into a loveless deposition of a legal case, requiring proper acknowledgment of guilt, accompanying shame, appropriate, verifiable repentance, and then a trial period for behavior modification. The younger son (known as the prodigal), doesn't change the Father's mind about him, rather he is greeted by his father RUNNING to him from a distance to welcome him, then throwing him a LAVISH, scandalous...
A Better View Pt3 - end or our Easter Series. Forgiveness does not require restitution or sacrifice. Then why was Jesus crucified? "The cross is not what God inflicts upon Christ in order to forgive. The cross is what God endures in Christ as he forgives." —Brian Zahnd
God does not require a sacrifice to FORGIVE! Salvation is about rescue NOT repayment. Discover the wonder of the Good News announced by Jesus in the Gospels.
"I Don't Ever Want My WHY to Take Me Away From Him!" Bill Johnson Many Christians in the West, particularly those of certain bible teaching groups, have SIGNIFICANT issues living with mystery (uncertainty), all the while demanding triumphant responses and biblical absolutism. This IS NOT the story of Easter.
The gospel of grace begins and ends with forgiveness. And people write songs with titles like “Amazing Grace” for one reason: grace is the only force in the universe powerful enough to break the chains that enslave generations. Grace alone melts ungrace! (Phillip Yancey)
John 5:40(MSG) “You have your heads in your Bibles constantly because you think you’ll find eternal life there. But you miss the forest for the trees. These Scriptures are all about me! And here I am, standing right before you." (s) A Truth Seeker is one who seeks Jesus and incarnationally lives with this question; "How can I love and affirm others as God/Jesus loves them"
When we are faced with life events that shake us to our core, challenging all we believe, even our faith, this message will provide 4 important keys.
When you believe that you are acceptable, no matter what, you can be honest with yourself, and that is when you are the most powerful to grow. You Are Enough!
“Sawubonoa!”, which is Zulu for, hello. It means, “I see you and by seeing you I bring you into being.” Thank you for seeing me. You didn’t have to hold up, wait for me, talk. You had important things pressing you. You “brought me into being”, and by doing so gave me the gift of feeling loved and appreciated.
Your view of God IS your view of YOU! Find out how much your view of God affects your mental, physical, and spiritual health.
Christian growth does not happen by first behaving better, but by believing differently and with awareness of who God made you to be in Christ.
What if your fear was really an act of the imagination... a gateway into a life of abandonment to God's dreams for you?
God uses what we often view as upside down to uncover His radical love and redemptive purposes. Heres the second message in Jeff's current talk on deconstructing what we think of church and gathering together. Are you ready to accept the challenge to question?!
God uses what we often view as upside down to uncover His radical love and redemptive purposes. Heres the second message in Jeff's current talk on deconstructing what we think of church and gathering together. Are you ready to accept the challenge to question?!
God uses what we often view as upside down to uncover His radical love and redemptive purposes.
Bells, Choir, music, solos, and encouragement. Wonder of His Love - this Christmas Eve @7p, Join Us in the sanctuary of St. John's.
