Advent is a season that often gets overshadowed by the festive celebrations of Christmas. However, it holds a profound significance in the Christian calendar, inviting believers to reflect on the anticipation and hope that precede the arrival of Jesus Christ. Here we take a deeper look at the meaning of Advent through the lens of Paul’s letter to the Galatians. This isn't just a distant historical account—it's a living invitation to discover an identity that truly sets you free.
Dec 08, 2024•39 min
We look at Jesus' final warnings to his followers: be careful the path you are following, the voices you are listening to, and ultimately the state of your heart toward God. We consider the importance of these three realities as we conclude our study of this famous teaching from Jesus.
Dec 01, 2024•46 min
Did you know Jesus' command "do not judge" is an often-misunderstood teaching from the Sermon on the Mount? This command still aligns with other New Testament teachings–if we understand the crucial difference between harmful judgment and righteous discernment. Listen now as we examine our own hearts, and build relationships that reflect Christ's love.
Nov 24, 2024•46 min
Jesus calls his followers to not be overly consumed with their own lives, but instead to value life in the kingdom of God. The prior can be clouded by worry, while the later affords a certain freedom. Is worry a sin? Where does it come from? And how do we shift out of it? In this teaching we aim to answer those questions and others as we look internally at our hearts and consider their condition.
Nov 18, 2024•40 min
We look at Jesus' teaching on the reality and location of our treasures. Rather than entrusting our treasures to this earth, Jesus calls us to place them in heaven. What does this mean and how do we do it? We will aim to answer those questions and others as we look internally at our hearts and consider their condition.
Nov 11, 2024•41 min
We continue our look at the Sermon on the Mount by considering Jesus' teaching on how to carry out our spiritual disciplines (Matt 6:1-18). While the Pharisees and religious leaders liked to flaunt their spirituality, Jesus is calling his followers to a heart-based spirituality that seeks God's glory above man.
Nov 04, 2024•47 min
How are we supposed to love those who are not so easy to love? We look at Jesus' teaching from Matthew 5 about loving your enemies–a command that challenges everything our culture tells us about relationships and justice. It offers a fresh perspective on handling conflict, rising above division, and experiencing true spiritual transformation in your daily life. Love can help you break cycles of hatred and walk a more fulfilling path forward. Listen now and be inspired to cultivate a love that tr...
Oct 27, 2024•38 min
What if true strength meant responding to wrongs with grace? Here we look at Jesus' teachings on retribution and mercy from the Sermon on the Mount. Find out why how "turning the other cheek" isn't about weakness, but a powerful transformation of the heart. We also cover what it means to go the extra mile in a world fixated on fairness. This isn't about following rules—it's about embodying the revolutionary love of Christ in everyday conflicts. Listen now and be inspired to live out grace in way...
Oct 20, 2024•38 min
How do Jesus' comments on divorce go beyond marriage? We take a deeper look at Matthew 5:31-37, beginning with the historical context of divorce laws and the importance of truthfulness and fidelity in all relationships. Jesus urges us to let our "yes" be "yes" and our "no" be "no." So listen now and be inspired to build a life and community defined by honesty, trust, and unwavering commitment.
Oct 14, 2024•37 min
What if Jesus' teachings on lust could change our view of desire? Let's look at the Sermon on the Mount's radical perspective on adultery and the heart. We cover how God supports us even in our struggles, and why desire itself isn't the enemy. This isn't about guilt—it's about finding true fulfillment in Christ. Listen now and be inspired to align your desires with God's will, finding peace that surpasses worldly pleasures and becoming salt and light in today's world.
Oct 07, 2024•42 min
What if anger was just as serious as murder in God's eyes? We continue to explore Jesus' radical teachings in the Sermon on the Mount. Listen now and be inspired to embrace a new way of living, rooted in love and grace, that starts with genuine heart change and impacts every relationship in your life.
Sep 29, 2024•44 min
How does Jesus' fulfillment of Old Testament law change our understanding of righteousness? Here we explore a righteousness that goes deeper than simply following rules. It's about embracing a profound shift from self-reliance to Christ-dependence. Listen now and explore how Jesus' grace can reshape your approach to faith and daily living.
Sep 23, 2024•41 min
What does it truly mean to be salt and light in today's world? We take a deeper look at the Sermon on the Mount and unpack the profound wisdom of the Beatitudes. Learn how mercy, purity of heart, and peacemaking can shape your character. This sermon will challenge you to live boldly, embracing Kingdom values in a world that often pushes against them. You'll gain practical insights on how to positively influence your surroundings and reflect Christ's love in your daily interactions. Listen now an...
Sep 16, 2024•40 min
Are you building your life on solid ground or shifting sand? Join us as we kick off an exciting new series on the Sermon on the Mount, exploring Jesus' powerful metaphor of life foundations. This sermon digs into what it means to intentionally construct our lives based on Christ's teachings, and the stark contrast with lives built on shaky ground. We'll unpack how Jesus himself is the ultimate foundation, while warning against the danger of letting secondary beliefs overshadow the core gospel. G...
Sep 09, 2024•40 min
What if God's generosity doesn't match our ideas of fairness? This sermon looks at the provocative parable of the workers in the vineyard, wrapping up our summer journey through Jesus' teachings. This story challenges our notions of reward and calling. And we can contrast it with the rich young ruler's struggle to follow Jesus. At its heart, this parable invites us to rethink what it means to follow Jesus and be part of God's kingdom. It's not about earthly success, but about embracing a relatio...
Sep 02, 2024•29 min
What does it truly mean to forgive? This episode explores the parable of the unmerciful servant from Matthew 18, using relatable experiences with financial debt as a metaphor for sin and forgiveness. True forgiveness involves releasing someone from the obligation to repay a debt, often requiring us to absorb the cost of the wrong done. The parable challenges us to reflect on our own attitudes towards forgiveness and urges us to embody the limitless forgiveness exemplified by God's grace. Forgive...
Aug 26, 2024•42 min
What makes the Kingdom of God so valuable that one would give up everything for it? This episode explores the parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price from Matthew 13:44-46. The Kingdom of God is both a future promise and a transformative present reality. Some discover it by chance, others through active seeking, but both require radical commitment to fully embrace it. These parables challenge us to evaluate our lives, prioritize the Kingdom above all else, and recognize its ...
Aug 18, 2024•34 min
How does the parable of the mustard seed explain the nature of God's Kingdom? This sermon looks at Matthew 13, exploring the themes of growth, hope, and inclusivity. Like the mustard seed, the Kingdom of God starts small but grows significantly over time. The expansion is gradual yet unstoppable. Through biblical stories and historical references, we examine how this divine process unfolds and recognize our role within it. Listen here to learn how we are called to be agents of hope and inclusivi...
Aug 11, 2024•33 min
What does the parable of the talents teach us about stewardship and faith? This episode examines Matthew 25:14-30 and its far-reaching impact on our lives. God places immense trust in us by investing gifts, abilities, and relationships in our care. It is crucial to actively engage with these investments, overcoming fear and laziness. We can use our talents for God's glory, to invest in our communities, and prioritize spiritual growth. Listen now and be inspired to make the most of what God has g...
Aug 04, 2024•38 min
Jesus told a story about a persistent widow who pleaded with a judge and finally received justice. And Jesus told his disciples this is how they should pray. Persistent prayer is important. More specifically, though, he is urging them to pray persistently for the return of Jesus and the fullness of the kingdom of God. Persistent kingdom prayers should be part of the rhythm of life for all of Jesus' disciples.
Jul 28, 2024•42 min
Jesus tells a compelling story of an entitled and prideful son who demands his inheritance, runs away and spends himself into poverty. Upon his return home, he is met in compassion and abounding grace by his father. Far from humiliating, he is welcomed by a celebration. His brother, however, is irate. Unlike his brother he was being a "good" son, but just like his brother he was trying to get his inheritance from his father. He is just like the Pharisees and teachers Jesus is speaking to. No one...
Jul 21, 2024•41 min
Jul 14, 2024•44 min
Wealth can certainly be dangerous, but it is not wrong, nor does Jesus condemn it. Rather this parable is about greed, thinking only of self and hoarding. And while greed certainly pertains to money, it also pertains to every facet of our lives. Jesus shows us that greed actually comes from our inner soul talk about what we need to be satisfied. The gospel is its only antidote.
Jul 07, 2024•34 min
Pastor Jim explores the well-known parable of the Good Samaritan, cautioning against the oversimplification of its message and stressing the importance of understanding its deeper meanings and context. He discusses how the parable intertwines the law, eternal life, and the notion of being a good neighbor, urging listeners to reflect on their relationship with God and their behavior towards others. Jim highlights that true eternal life is realized through understanding the heart of the Father and...
Jun 30, 2024•35 min
Jesus tells the parable of the sower to show two important truths. First, God faithfully and generously sows the seed of the gospel for all of humanity, without precondition or prejudice. Second, the soil, or human heart, on which a seed lands is important for its growth. The faithfulness of the sower is a constant, but the human heart is not. What type of soil is your heart? And what are you doing to cultivate it?
Jun 23, 2024•39 min
Jesus concludes his prayer by praying for all who come to believe. He prays for unity - that the church would be one like he and the Father are one. In fact, he says that it is unity that will enable the world to know Jesus and the love of God. This reality of unity is only possible when believers collectively see the glory of Jesus above all else.
Jun 16, 2024•36 min
Jesus sends his disciples into the world in the very same way the Father sent him. They are agents of the gospel for the glory of God. His prayer for them is for their protection from wandering and from the evil one who seeks to destroy. Moreover, he prays that they would have joy and be set apart.
Jun 09, 2024•45 min
Jesus begins his prayer by asking to be glorified. He is praying for the reality of resurrection in the face of the cross. This resurrection will not only glorify Jesus, but also the Father. And it will bring eternal life to all who are in Jesus. Eternal life is knowing God - both then and now, in both quality and quantity.
Jun 02, 2024•34 min
When Jesus tells his disciples he is going away, he also urges them to abide or remain in him. Not only is this counterintuitive, but it seems impossible. Yet Jesus is talking about being so immersed in his love that they live his way and follow his commands in this world and in so doing glorify God. We glorify God by remaining in Jesus. And we remain in Jesus when we follow his commands. When we follow his commands we enact his love to each other.
May 26, 2024•37 min
Jesus tells his disciples that the Spirit will come to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. The Spirit exposes the truth about sin and the emptiness of human effort or religion so that there might be repentance. The main modes of this testimony are the Scriptures which the Spirit will lead the disciples to write and ongoing witness of the church.
May 19, 2024•41 min
