That God is slow to anger means that he is patient, longsuffering, forbearing with us... but it doesn't mean he never gets angry. God's anger is very real. God will deal with all that threatens the goodness of the creation he loves. The good news of the gospel is that, through the cross, God's anger toward sinners like us was satisfied. And that reality gives us hope.
In week 2 of our "God Is..." series, we look at God's introduction of his name, the LORD, God's covenant name, Yahweh. This name was incredibly significant for Israel, and it can be for us as well. Knowing that God has a name has the potential to transform how we see and think about the God of the Bible.
“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” - A.W. Tozer Who is God? There isn’t a more important question we can ask. How we think about God - what he’s like, how he responds, what his character is - these ideas deeply form us as human beings. Philosophers, theologians, and thinkers have written volumes describing God to us, but in two verses in the book of Exodus God describes himself. "The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord...
We wrap up our series in the Gospel of Matthew this morning looking at Jesus' final words to his disciples. Jesus invites them, and us, into a mission beyond ourselves that will take more than we have in us. But framing this invitation Jesus promises what we need - his power and presence along the way. Join us as we look at Matthew's final scene.
The resurrection of Jesus is the central reality of the universe. It’s the hinge to all of history. It is the climax of God’s story, it’s the crescendo of creation. And if we believe it's true, the resurrection changes everything.
For many, the crucifixion of Jesus is confusing and even disturbing. There is little about it that seems attractive. Yet, if we have eyes to see the upside-down realities of the cross - an innocent man treated like a criminal, the Son of God dying a painful death, victory coming through death - we will behold the life-changing beauty that's there.
Matthew 26 is a story about failure. Peter's failure at Jesus' most trying moment shows us something deep and powerful about the grace of God. Jesus' faithfulness in our failure can bring hope and healing to the most hidden parts of our self.
We are making the final turn in Matthew's gospel in Jesus' journey toward the cross. As Jesus' death looms, the response of his followers to that death is varied. Pastor Ryan looks at Matthew 26:1-29 this morning and what we do with Jesus' sacrifice on our behalf.
Jesus is calling us, in light of a future judgment day, to live lives so impacted by the gospel, that we just spill out, everywhere we go, this self-sacrificial love for others. Join us as Pastor Ben unpacks the final section of Jesus' Olivet Discourse in Matthew 25:31-46.
We're grateful to have Drew Dawson preaching for us this morning. Drew and his wife Sarah are planting a church in Gig Harbor with Resurrection Church, Tacoma. Over the last couple of years we've been part of a growing collective of churches in the South Sound, including Resurrection Church, working together to equip church planters and mobilize new church plants. We're excited about what God is doing, and what he will do through this new church on the Penninsula!
What does it look like to wait, ready for Jesus? In Matthew 25:14-30 Jesus says it looks like stewarding and multiplying the master's property. What does that mean for us? Find out at Pastor Ryan unpacks the Parable of the Talents and what it says to us about how we see God and what we do with what he's entrusted to us.
What do the events of Easter mean? Why are they so significant? When Jesus' earliest followers looked for answers to that question, they found them in Psalm 2. This ancient Hebrew poem, written for a royal enthronement ceremony, gives us an understanding of Jesus' resurrection as his coronation as King, and helps us see the heart of Easter: that though we've rejected God as King, through his death and resurrection Jesus makes a way for us to enjoy the blessings of his kingdom, forever!
In our quick-fix, microwavable, instant-gratification digital culture, we don't know how to wait. And yet waiting exactly what Jesus calls us to. Between Jesus' resurrection and his return, he calls his followers to preparation and readiness. He calls them to wait well. Join us this morning as Pastor Ryan Knight unpacks what that looks like through Jesus' "Parable of the Ten Virgins" in Matthew 25:1-13.
The central hope of Christians for centuries has been that Jesus will one day return and set everything right, forever. Jesus doesn't tell us when that day will be, but he does tell us how to live in light of its reality. Join us this morning as Pastor Ryan looks at Matthew 24:36-51 and Jesus' discussion of his future coming.
It's easy in a chaotic world to read the latest headlines, watch the 24-hr news cycle, and see the endless crises around us and become either indifferent to them or obsessed with them. But what is Jesus calling us to when it feels like the world is falling apart? Matthew 24 is about more than a timeline of world events, it's about how follow Jesus faithfully through whatever comes. Join us as Pastor Ben unpacks this difficult and often debated passage and gets to the heart of Jesus' message thro...
Jesus' strong condemnation of the Pharisees in Matthew 23 is a condemnation of religious hypocrisy on every level. Jesus hates hypocrisy, particularly when it's cloaked in religious garb. And yet, Matthew 23 makes clear that Jesus' arms are wide open to hypocrites who will recognize their hypocrisy and turn to him. Join us as Pastor Ryan walks us through this powerful passage.
For both the secular and the religious, it's easy to miss Jesus when we look at him from our vantage point. We underestimate the power, and glory and significance of who he is and what he's come to do. In Matthew 22:23-46, Jesus confronts two age-old questions on hope and morality and corrects our human misunderstands. He then turns the tables and asks a question of his own that flips everything upside down.
In an era of increasing societal and political polarization, it's easy to slide into the intense partisanship we see around us. But Jesus models something different. Something not partisan but prophetic. A way forward that refuses to give allegiance to anything other than Jesus' kingship, but exercises a subversive rebellion through submission. Join us as Pastor Ben unpacks Jesus' well-known words in Matthew 22:21, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are Go...
We continue through the Gospel of Matthew this morning as Pastor Ryan opens up Matthew 22:1-14, Jesus' parable of the wedding banquet. This parable shows us the joy of the gospel and the grief of rejecting God's gracious invitation.
Jesus comes into Jerusalem to do battle, but not with the enemies we'd expect. Jesus' conflict with Israel's religious leaders reminds us that Jesus' has come not just to conquer external enemies, but to overthrow all our man-made religious efforts and replace them with himself.
This week we jump back into our series in the Gospel of Matthew. Pastor Ryan walks us through a significant turning point in the gospel. The beginning of holy week and Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on a donkey. What we find through this profound account is that though Jesus is nothing like we expect, he is everything we need.
We need renewal. Our focus for the month of January is on how God renews and revives his people. This morning Pastor Ryan looks at Paul's prayer in Ephesians 1:15-22 and shows how God works when he revives his church.
We kick off our January sermon series by looking at three characteristics of personal renewal. Personal renewal always involves an encounter with the living God, an experience of his love, and the empowerment of his presence.
In the weeks leading up to Christmas we'll spend four weeks reflecting on the good news that arrives with Jesus: Love, Peace, Hope, and Joy. We hope you'll join us as we worship the newborn king together.
In the weeks leading up to Christmas we'll spend four weeks reflecting on the good news that arrives with Jesus: Love, Peace, Hope, and Joy. We hope you'll join us as we worship the newborn king together.
The arrival of Jesus means the arrival of peace. Jesus life, death and resurrection have done something - they've brought a personal peace into our lives, and are bringing a cosmic peace to all of creation. Join us as we enter the second Sunday of Advent reflecting on the peace that Jesus brings.
In the weeks leading up to Christmas we'll spend four weeks reflecting on the good news that arrives with Jesus: Love, Peace, Hope, and Joy. We hope you'll join us as we worship the newborn king together.
