Embodying Holiness

These days we are learning who we are inside the holiness of God. In these conversations, we're learning that holiness is not slavery. It is freedom! It is God calling us toward our created purpose. And we're learning that Christ’s freedom is not freedom FROM but freedom TO (make a note of that ... we'll come back to it in a series on freedom in August!). Doing "holy" was never meant to be just sin management. It is freedom to explore the glories and habits of the Kingdom of God. This week, we'll go deeper still into this idea of living a Kingdom life as we explore holiness as an embodied experience. What does holiness require of us, physically? And how does holiness manifest in our worship?

Topics: Bodies, Holiness, Perfect Love, Pleasing God

Growing in Holiness

As we go deeper into the Art of Holiness, we want to consider our influences. Last week we discussed the unholy trinity of the world, the flesh, and the devil. This week we will look at how God’s character, real Christian community, and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit can grow us in dynamic ways. In many ways, these are the three key influencers that mold us more deeply into the love and holiness of God. So join us as we come to know who God is and experience His grace through His people and His Holy Spirit.

Topics: Community, God's Love, Holiness, Holy Spirit

Holiness of Mind

How can we be made perfect in love? In so many ways, this is the question of the Art of Holiness. This week we will look specifically at how to love God with all of our mind. The Church has long taught that the enemies of wholeness and holiness is the unholy trinity of the world, the flesh, and the devil. This week we will learn how to fight the battle for the mind with divine power so that we can walk in peace and freedom. See you Sunday!

Topics: Holiness, Take Every Thought Captive, The Battle in the Mind

Be Made Perfect In Love

Unfortunately, due to technical issues the April 23 sermon audio and video is not available for publication. We sincerely apologize for the gap in providing the service, and for any disappointment and frustration this has caused. Thank you for your grace as we work thorough learning new applications and equipment attached to our technical upgrades. We deeply appreciate your faithfulness in following our series of messages so closely. We appreciate you so much!

Topics: Christian Perfection

The Grand Depositum

Isn’t the very idea of holiness offensive in a 21st-century, no-holds-barred world? Shouldn’t that term be reserved for angry church ladies who want to suck all the fun out of life? Isn’t it for the few, the angry … them?

For us who live in a post-modern, highly educated world, the very idea of it raises suspicion. But what if we've got it wrong? This spring, we'll spend time talking about the biblical call to holiness and we'll discover that its not what we've been told. As it turns out, holiness is not an engineered life that keeps us from sinning, but the art of living fully. It is the good life! It is the pathway to joy and the ultimate form of freedom that calls out the best in us and causes us – when we live it well – to glorify God.

Topics: Holiness, Sanctification, The Good Life

King of My Heart

This week we will hear an inspiring testimony about the way God gently moves us in love toward the direction of His heart, followed by a message to help us remember Jesus is the king of our hearts.

Topics: Jesus as King

Two Words, Two Signs, Two Men

We are still working our way toward the cross on which Jesus died. That cross -- and the land on which it was staked -- is the most valuable piece of real estate in the world. No other place or thing has carried more weight or impacted more lives. It is worth our time to stand at the foot of that cross and contemplate what was accomplished on our behalf. This week, as we take our place beneath the cross, we will hear two words, witness the response of two men, and see the intermingling of two worlds. As with every scene from John's gospel we've encountered during this journey toward the cross, we must remember that these are not just good life lessons for Christians. This is an historic record, and our part is to trust the history as we allow it to shape our world. Jesus Christ, our Messiah, invites us into a Kingdom that is not of this world ... but oh! so much better!

Topics: Jesus Final Words, Sacrifice, The Cross

Jesus is King

Jesus is King, but what does that mean? I might know that He is King of the universe, but does that translate into Him being the King of my life? Our culture, the systems we live and work in, and even the willfulness of our own souls often seek to challenge Jesus’ place as King. John 19 calls us to stand in front of Jesus and really consider what His Kingship asks of us. Ultimately, it is as we see Jesus as the crucified King that our hearts are made ready to surrender to His love.

Topics: Jesus as King, Lordship

A Jesus or THE Jesus?

get most excited when our times together on Sunday can really focus on Jesus. As we make our way toward Easter, that's our focus. Simply Jesus. The question is: which Jesus? Because what we want and who he is aren't always a match. We want a Messiah who is easily understood, whose “I am” is readily accessible. We are not prepared for a Messiah who is here but not here, or for a king whose Kingdom is intangible but ever-present. We can definitely balk at truth as Jesus defines it. The faith requirement for this kind of Messiah is very high, so we’d better know who it is we want before we go claiming our allegiance to Jesus. Otherwise, like Peter, we’ll find ourselves stepping back and fearful of the commitment.

Who is it you really want to be your savior? Are you sure? That's where we'll be on Sunday as we open the gospel of John (chapter 17) together. I can't wait.

Topics: Jesus, Savior, The Reality Of Jesus

Eternal Life Begins Now

Beginning this week, we start our journey toward the cross, knowing that we will not only encounter the grace of Christ there but find an invitation into a Kingdom life that is not of this world. I look forward to taking the journey with you, and pray that we will all have eyes to see what God is doing so we can join him.

Topics: Eternal Life, God's Glory, Grace, The Kingdom